2006—2007 SEASON

THE CHRONICLES by Wendy Wasserstein Directed by Michael Evan Haney

MAJOR SUPPORT PROVIDED BY AT&T YELLOW PAGES

CONTENTS 2 The 411 3 A/S/L & RMAI 4 FYI 5 RBTL 6 B4U 8 HTH 9 F2F 10 IRL 12 SWDYT?

STUDY GUIDES ARE SUPPORTED BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM CITIGROUP

MISSOURI ARTS COUNCIL MIHYAP: TOP TEN WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED AT THE REP At The Rep, we know that life moves fast— 10. TBA Ushers will seat your school or class as a group, okay, really fast. so even if you are dying to mingle with the group from the But we also know all girls school that just walked in the door, stick with your that some things friends until you have been shown your section in the are worth slowing down for. We believe that live theatre is theatre. one of those pit stops worth making and are excited that 9. SITD The house lights will dim immediately before the you are going to stop by for a show. To help you get the performance begins and then go dark. Fight off that oh-so- most bang for your buck, we have put together immature urge to whisper, giggle like a grade schooler, or WU? @ THE REP—an IM guide that will give you yell at this time and during any other blackouts in the show. everything you need to know to get at the top of your 8. SED Before the performance begins, turn off all cell theatergoing game—fast. You’ll find character descriptions phones, pagers, beepers and watch alarms. If you need to (A/S/L), a plot summary (FYI), biographical information text, talk, or dial back during intermission, please make sure on the playwright (F2F), historical context (B4U), and to click off before the show resumes. other bits and pieces (HTH). Most importantly, we’ll have 7. TMI Not to sound like your mom, but “if you need to some ideas about what this all means IRL, anyway. go now, you needed to go then.” Leaving the theatre during the performance is disruptive, so take care of any personal needs before the show starts. 6. RTM When you arrive at the theatre, read the production program. It’s like a deluxe version of liner notes and a free souvenir, all in one. 5. P-ZA? NW! Though your ability to eat ten slices at one The Teacher’s sitting may impress your friends, no one wants to listen to Lounge you chew, slurp, or smack, so please leave all food, drink, and gum outside the theatre. In an effort to make our educational materials more accessible to students 4. TLK-2-U-L-8-R We know that you will be dying to discuss what you see onstage with your friends, but please and easier for educators to incorporate into wait until intermission. Any talking—even whispering— is the classroom, we have adopted a new, more student- very distracting for both the actors onstage and the audience oriented format. We hope that you will circulate this seated around you. guide among your students in the weeks preceding your visit to The Rep, encouraging them to browse it before 3. LOL Without you, we really wouldn’t have a show. It’s and after class and as time allows, using it as a launch your job to laugh when a scene is funny or maybe even shed point for both pre- and post-performance discussions. a tear or two in a tender moment. However, since you are not the audience at The Jerry Springer Show please refrain You may also want to visit our website, www.repstl.org from inappropriate responses such as talking, whistling, for additional information including educational games, making catcalls or singing along with the performers. activity suggestions and behind-the-scenes information. Any materials, either from this guide, or from our 2. SOP While it’s great that you want a celeb picture of website may be reproduced for use in the your day at The Rep, the theatre is off-limits to the classroom. As always, we appreciate paparazzi. Flash photography interrupts the performance and your making live theatre a part of your along with videorecording is prohibited by Actors Equity rules. You can sneak a peek at production photos on our classroom experience and welcome your website, www.repstl.org. feedback and questions. 1. LLTA Let the actors know that you respect their work Show Me Standards: CA 1, 2, 3, 5, 7; FA 3, 4, 5; SS 1, 2, 6 by remaining for the curtain call at the end of the and Illinois Learning Standards: 1, 2, 4, 5, 14, 16, 18, 25, 27. performance. Show your appreciation through applause. Author, professor, art historian and activist, DEBBIE and CLARA join Heidi in her protest HEIDI HOLLAND has spent much of her life at the Chicago Art Institute. trying to find the key to happiness. Scoop’s good-girl wife, LISA, tries to give her Heidi’s friend, SUSAN JOHNSTON, has been husband the life he wants, but knows that a giggling schoolgirl, member of a feminist he is being unfaithful. commune and high-powered LA producer, but still struggles to find who she really is. MOLLY, another member of the Montana Women’s Health and Legal Collective, Successful New York pediatrician PETER attends Scoop’s wedding with Susan. PATRONE has been Heidi’s best friend since the day they met, and though he tries to be BETSY is the managing editor of Boomer, Heidi’s constant strength, he has battles of Scoop’s magazine. his own to fight. Scoop’s sister-in-law, DENISE, is a SCOOP ROSENBAUM may be Heidi’s one production assistant on TV’s Hello New York. true love, but he marries another when APRIL tries unsuccessfully to control he admits that Heidi is too strong for him Heidi, Peter and Scoop when they are guests to dominate. on her TV show. JILL, FRAN and BECKY all attend a meeting of the Huron Street Ann Arbor Consciousness Raising Group with Susan and Heidi.

READ MORE ABOUTIT We encourage you to examine these topics in-depth by exploring the following books and websites. The Heidi Chronicles, Mini-Series starring Jamie Lee Curtis, 1989, PBS. National Organization for Women—http://www.now.org/ Code, Lorraine, ed., Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories, Routledge, 2003. Antrobus, Peggy. The Global Women's Movement—Origins, issues and strategies, London, Zed Books, 2004. Equal Rights Amendment—http://www.equalrightsamendment.org/ National Museum of Women in the Arts—http://www.nmwa.org/ Wasserstein, Wendy. Uncommon Women and Others, Dramatists Play Service, 1998.

3 DRAWING FROM her own experience growing discuss Scoop’s choice in a life partner. Soon up in America during the feminist movement, in Scoop and his new wife, Lisa, find the group of her award-winning The Heidi Chronicles, Wendy friends that Scoop has been searching for. When Wasserstein gives us a trip through the life of art the music for the first dance begins playing in historian Heidi Holland. The play begins with a the adjoining ballroom, the groom cannot be lecture Dr. Holland is giving on her subject of convinced to accompany his bride, so Peter and choice—previously unrecognized female artists. Susan leave to dance with Lisa. Left alone, As we hear about a painting by Mrs. Lily Martin Scoop questions Heidi about her life and Spencer which to Heidi is reminiscent of a informs her that while he couldn’t marry her “horrible high-school dance,” we are transported because she is too strong for him, Heidi is still back to just such a dance. It is 1965 and sixteen- an A+ while Lisa is a lowly A-. Scoop tells Heidi year-old Heidi is less than enthusiastic about her he’ll always love her as the two share his first partnering options, but her friend Susan is wedding dance. ferociously pursuing a boy who can both “twist ACT II brings us to a 1980 baby shower at and smoke.” Left alone, Heidi is soon approached Scoop and Lisa’s apartment. Heidi attends, late by Peter, a young man with whom she because she has been at the Central Park immediately feels comfortable. The two talk, memorial for John Lennon. Through the ladies’ dance and sing, and in the process begin a discussion we find that Peter is a successful friendship that will last through both their lives. pediatrician and has just been named the Best THE NEXT SCENE transports us again, as we Pediatrician in New York Under Forty by Scoop’s find Heidi at a 1968 Eugene McCarthy campaign Boomer magazine. When Lisa leaves the room to where she meets Scoop Rosenbaum. Political take a phone call from Scoop, we also find out a activist, Princeton dropout and all-around cad, bit about her husband. Apparently Scoop has Scoop is instantly attracted to Heidi, and the been seeing another woman for quite some two leave the dance together. At a 1970 time, a woman who he introduced to Heidi in women’s consciousness-raising rap group, Heidi the park that morning while his wife hosted a admits that she is too easily swayed by Scoop. party to celebrate the impending birth of their The other women at the meeting, including the first child. now fiercely feminist Susan, encourage a TWO MORE YEARS pass and we see Heidi, reluctant Heidi to participate in their Peter and Scoop as guests on the television movement. She is, however, a bit confused show Hello New York. The three are about what they are fighting against. The year representatives of the baby boom generation, 1974 brings us to the Chicago Art Institute, and are directed to talk about politics, where Heidi is leading a group of women relationships, careers and sexuality. protesting the lack of female artists in the Heidi wants to talk about her new project— museum’s collection. Joined by best friend ”Woman’s Art”—but Scoop and Peter Peter, Heidi explains her cause and offers to completely dominate the conversation. In help Peter find a girlfriend. Peter informs Heidi 1987 Heidi plans to leave New York for that not only does he not need her help finding Minnesota to finish her book and accept a a girlfriend, he doesn’t want a girlfriend. Ever. teaching position at Carleton College. Peter, He’s gay. shocked and upset, rails at Heidi for being ANOTHER FLASHBACK, this time to 1977 unhappy for no reason and leaving him just like and Scoop’s wedding reception at the Pierre everyone else does. A final scene brings us to Hotel. , along with Susan who 1989 where Heidi introduces Scoop to her newly has joined them from her new home at the adopted daughter. Scoop praises Heidi for Montana Women’s Health and Legal Collective, finally getting everything she wants, but she’s have gathered outside the main ballroom to left wondering if that can ever be true. FEMINISM ACHIEVEMENT THE EVOLUTION of the women’s movement THE CHARACTERS in this play are all wildly and its effects on the lives of its participants successful—at least in the area of their provides a central theme and structure for careers. Heidi is a prominent art historian The Heidi Chronicles. We begin with a girl and writer, Scoop owns his own magazine who must behave in a certain way to attract and has great ties to politics, and Peter is a man, move on to protests and a feminist one of New York’s best young doctors. Why commune, and end with fiercely strong is it then that each of these characters has career women who are successful but alone. moments of doubt, loneliness and sadness Seeing the changes in society, friends and about the state of their lives? While an herself through this social reform, Heidi is outsider would probably see each of these left wondering what has been gained and people as someone to be envied, one of their what has been lost. greatest struggles is to find happiness. No matter what they accomplish or how many FRIENDSHIP credits and titles they accumulate, all are still searching for something to make them HEIDI’S RELATIONSHIPS with Susan, Scoop feel valid and truly alive. and Peter provide three examples of the importance and influence of friends on a person’s life. While Heidi and Susan begin as BALANCE the best of friends, Susan quickly becomes HEIDI’S QUEST to have it all leaves her someone who abandons Heidi for whatever is wondering how to balance a career and a the latest fad. Heidi cannot rely on Susan, personal life with the new avenues that are but cautiously continues the relationship open to women after the feminist anyway. Scoop is far more than a friend, and movement. As Scoop points out, people who to Heidi’s own admission, his approval try to “have it all” are very often left controls much of the way she sees herself. disappointed if they can’t achieve it. Susan There is no question that Scoop has equally lives her life without balance, jumping strong feeling for Heidi, but he is unwilling wholly into whatever cause or trend she to allow himself to rely on her or to commit decides to become for a time. Even though to someone he knows he cannot dominate. she conquers nearly every obstacle she faces, Perhaps the best and most unwavering Susan ends up wondering who she really is. friend to Heidi is Peter. While he does have Struggling to find this necessary balance his moments of selfishness, he is the most and finding what she truly needs to be devoted person Heidi could hope for, and his happy leaves Heidi lost and searching friendship is the only constant presence in through much of her life. her life. IN THE HEIDI CHRONICLES we are everything.” So were uttered the words that introduced to characters who live through the would begin a struggle in the new nation. feminist movement of the 1960s and ‘70s, NOT LONG AFTER the formation of the coming out on the other side with new United States, women began their fight for concerns. While it is true that these years equality. In 1789 the new constitution was were crucial in the advancement of women in ratified including terminology such as American society, the women’s liberation, or “persons” and “electors” which allowed for interpretation of citizens to include men and women. Three-hundred men and women signed the Declaration of Sentiments in 1848, which included a plea for the end of discrimination against women in all classes of society. This fight was met with a change for the worse, however, when the 14th Amendment was passed in 1866 defining “citizens,” and more specifically, “voters,” as male. Women had little or no rights in the states; they weren’t even allowed to own property without their husband’s permission. WITH THE NEW stipulations in the Constitution denying women basic rights, the fight for equality became much more feminist, movement actually had its urgent. Just three years after the 14th beginnings hundreds of years prior. Amendment was passed, the first women’s suffrage law was passed in the territory of BEGINNING WITH Christine de Pizan, Wyoming. In 1870 the 15th Amendment who advocated feminism against attempts to made a clarification saying, “The right of restrict female inheritance in the 1300s, citizens of the US to vote shall not be women began struggling for and reaching denied…on account of race, color or previous new landmarks of equality. Feminism as a condition of servitude.” Though the wording movement and cohesive philosophy may be stated that women were not specifically dated back to the first women’s society, excluded from the vote, individual states founded for women in science in 1785. continued the practice of barring anyone but As early as 1792 and Mary Wollstonecraft’s white males from the polls. The movement A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, was dealt another blow in 1875 when the feminist writers were producing works and Supreme Court declared that a state could making their cause known. While prohibit a woman from voting because advancements were being sought around the though women did count as “persons” they, world, in the newly formed United States of along with other minorities, were considered America, women started in society exactly a “special category of nonvoting citizens.” where they had been in Britain—at the bottom. In 1769 the American colonies THOUGH IT SEEMED any progress made summarized the status of women as “…the was immediately countered, the women of very being and legal existence of the woman the United States did not give up. Suffrage is suspended during marriage, or at least is parades, group meetings and new incorporated into that of her husband under organizations such as the National American whose wing and protection she performs Women Suffrage Association began to give

6 women hope of change. Leaders such as ratification, and by the end of the seven year Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony time limit, only 35 of the 38 necessary states tirelessly led the crusade, urging their fellow had ratified it. women to work in jobs that were traditionally OPPONENTS OF the Amendment began male dominated or to speak out in public winning support with what were considered forums. After years of fighting, in 1920 the radical arguments. They argued that work of these pioneers finally paid off when traditional gender roles would be obliterated, the 19th Amendment was ratified giving women would be required to register for the women the right to vote. draft, male sports teams would have to accept WITH THE FIGHT for the vote won, women women and same-sex marriages would become EQUAL RIGHTS began a new mission—to secure equal rights commonplace. These arguments were refuted AMENDMENT: for women throughout the country. In 1923 again and again by supporters of the ERA, the National Woman’s Party first proposed a but even with votes on ratification as EQUALITY Constitutional Amendment assuring that recently as 2005, the Amendment remains OF RIGHTS “Men and women shall have equal rights defeated. The battle has not been lost, UNDER THE throughout the United States….” This equal however, as many states have adopted LAW SHALL rights amendment was introduced in almost their own equal rights amendments. Many of NOT BE every session of Congress between 1923 and the issues proposed by the ERA have also DENIED OR 1970, though it never reached the floor for a been achieved through other judicial acts. ABRIDGED BY vote. Because of pressure from opposition in Women are enjoying greater freedoms in the powerful labor unions, the bill was lost in workplace, legal settlements and health THE UNITED committees for decades. Finally, thanks to the rights, though they are still discriminated STATES OR second wave of strongly active feminism in against. Freedom for all people is a change ANY STATE the 1960s and ‘70s, the Equal Rights that has been fought for since the beginning ON ACCOUNT Amendment was presented to Congress for of this nation and is important for all OF SEX. ratification in 1972. A deadline of March 22, citizens, because as Gloria Steinem wrote, 1979 was set for the Amendment’s “the truth is that none of us can be liberated if other groups are not.”

Want to learn more about the women’s movement? Choose some of the many women who broke new ground for equal rights (Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Billie Jean King, Coretta Scott King, Amelia Earheart, Sandra Day O’Connor, Betty Friedan and many more) and research their contributions.

➤ What was special about what these women did? How might they have been treated during their lifetimes? What is happening today that can compare? FEMINISM: a movement BOBBY KENNEDY: DAVID CASSIDY: actor organized around the belief in Attorney General during known for his role on the social, political and economic John F. Kennedy’s presidency, 1970s sitcom The Partridge equality of the sexes. democratic senator for Family. SOFONISBA ANGUISSOLA: New York. LILLA CABOT PERRY: (1532-1625) Italian EUGENE MCCARTHY: (1848–1933) one of the first portrait painter, the first unsuccessfully sought the American artists to embrace internationally known 1968 democratic presidential impressionism. female artist. nomination, to succeed the MARY CASSATT: incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson. CLARA PEETERS: (1844–1926) American (1594–1657) Baroque era “NEAT AND CLEAN painter, exhibited in female painter. FOR EUGENE”: informal impressionist shows as well LILY MARTIN SPENCER: slogan during McCarthy as experimenting with other campaign which developed styles. (1822–1902) English-born when some anti-war students American painter famous for BERTHE MORISOT: who had the appearance of genre paintings and portraits. (1841–1895) American hippies chose to cut their long impressionist painter, HULLY GULLY: a type of hair and shave off their beards exhibited work in all of the unstructured line dance in order to campaign for original impressionist shows. originating in the 1960s which McCarthy door-to-door. consisted of a series of steps JONAS SALK: American NORMAN MAILER: that are called out. researcher and physician author of The Naked and the best known for inventing C’EST TRISTE, Dead, based on his own the first polio vaccine. N’EST PAS: (French) experiences in World War II. It is sad, is it not? BURT LANCE: budget director PAUL NEWMAN: Academy for President Jimmy Carter. CE N’EST PAS BON: Award-winning actor and (French) It is not good. director. REGANOMICS: a term used to describe the economic CHARISMA: personal JANE WYATT & ROBERT policies of President Ronald magnatism or charm. YOUNG: actors on the 1950s Regan. sitcom, Father Knows Best. QUAALUDE: trademark used BERTRAND RUSSELL: for the sedative and hypnotic DONOVAN: 1960s folk British philosopher, writer, drug methaqualone. musician with the hit song liberal and anti-war activist. “Mellow Yellow”. DYSPEPTIC: displaying a BETSY BLOOMINGDALE: morose disposition MERCE CUNNINGHAM: internationally known socialite innovative dancer and CAUSTIC: harsh, biting or and the author of a book on choreographer, founder of corrosive in tone. entertaining; best known as a the Merce Cunningham friend of Nancy and Ronald COMMUNE: a small, often Dance Company. Reagan. rural community whose LAURA NYRO: influential members share common DILETTANT: one who dabbles 1960s female singer and interests, work and income in the arts in a superficial way. songwriter. and often own property collectively. WITH A FATHER who owned a textile factory LEAVING MOUNT HOLYOKE with a where he invented velveteen, a mother who bachelor’s degree in 1971, Wendy became was a dancer after escaping the Nazis in one of the first students in a creative Poland, and a name taken from the writing program at New York’s City adventurous girl in J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, University. Studying under the likes of Wendy Wasserstein seemed destined for a Joseph Heller and playwright Israel Horvitz, creative life. Not long after she was born in Wendy thrived. Soon after receiving her 1950 Brooklyn, Wendy’s parents began her master’s degree in 1973, the play that was artistic education by encouraging their her thesis, Any Woman Can’t, was produced young girl to attend plays, musicals, variety by Playwrights Horizons, beginning Wendy’s shows and movies both with them and her long association with the group. Deciding to siblings. While the Wasserstein family lived continue her study, Wendy applied to both in Brooklyn, Wendy attended Yeshiva of Columbia Business School and the Yale Flatbush for primary school and later School of Drama. Opting to follow her heart, transferred to the Brooklyn Ethical Culture she went to Yale where she received her School where she enjoyed dancing. Later, master of fine arts degree in 1976 and wrote when the family moved to Manhattan, she what would become Uncommon Women and continued her dance lessons on Saturday Others. mornings and followed that with a matinee FINDING HER FIRST success in theatre, with her parents. All those afternoons on Wendy continued her writing. Her next Broadway immersed the youngster in a world major work, Isn’t It Romantic, premiered in of drama, song and dance, and first gave 1981 and explored women’s dilemma of Wendy the idea that theatre could be a choosing a traditional life and marriage or career, not just an entertainment. the newly opened avenue of career AFTER GRADE SCHOOL, Wendy attended development. This and other feminist and the Calhoun School, a private school in women’s issues became a running theme Manhattan, where she began her writing throughout Wendy’s work. Her most famous with scripts for fashion shows, which also play, The Heidi Chronicles, featured a woman’s got her out of gym class. For college, she struggle to find happiness in a life she’s moved to Mount Holyoke, the oldest not sure has followed the path she wanted. institution of higher learning for women in In the play, like in its playwright’s life, a the United States. Here Wendy was woman discovers activism in the 1960s, introduced to a world of many different feminism in the ‘70s and a career-driven women, and by her own account, a women’s lifestyle in the ‘80s. The play was hailed as a history class changed the way she saw the poignant reflection of the generation and world. This new setting so influenced the earned Wendy, among other acclaim, a young writer, that it would find its way into Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize. her first widely-known play, Uncommon IN ADDITION to her plays, Wendy Women and Others. Published in 1978, this Wasserstein has written collections of essays, play follows several alumnae of Mount magazine articles and a novel. She wrote the Holyoke College through the years and back screenplay for the 1998 film The Object of My to their seven-year reunion. The story Affection, featuring Jennifer Aniston and reveals much of its creator’s burgeoning Paul Rudd, in addition to other works for ideas about women and feminism. film and television. After a bout with cancer, at the age of 55, Wasserstein passed away in January of 2006.

9 THOUGH MANY people may think the The National Women’s History struggle for gender equality is over, there Project strives to recognize the are others who realize there is still a historical contributions of difference to be made. Here are the facts: women which have been previously • Woman make up less than 1/5 of the eliminated members of Congress and state governors from history • Women hold top positions at less than books. Since 3% of the Fortune 500 companies its inception in 1980, this • Females represent more than 85% of all organization US rape and domestic violence victims has worked to • More than 90% of eating disorders are promote a found in girls, and women make up 85% multicultural of cosmetic surgery patients women’s perspective by • A woman has NEVER been President of the including US, nor been nominated by a major party women of WITH NUMBERS LIKE THESE it diverse cultural, is quite clear that there is still ethnic, occupational, class, a battle raging for sexual racial and regional equality in the United States. backgrounds. In 1987, NWHP Following are several of the successfully campaigned to have numerous national women’s the entire month of March organizations fighting for rights recognized as National Women’s History today. Month. Started in 1966, the National The National Council of Women’s Organization for Women Organizations is a nonpartisan, nonprofit (NOW) is an organization umbrella organization of groups that devoted to bringing about collectively represent over ten million equality for all women. NOW women across the United States. The only works to eliminate national coalition of its kind, NCWO is a discrimination and harassment tax-exempt organization with 20 years of in the workplace, schools, the experience uniting American women’s justice system and all other groups. sectors of society; secure Founded in 1881, the American Association reproductive rights for all of University Women is committed to women; end all forms of making a significant impact on education violence against women; eradicate racism, and equity for all women and girls; removing sexism and homophobia; and promote barriers and developing opportunities to equality and justice in our society. NOW is enable women and girls to reach their full the largest women’s rights organization in potential. the United States, with a membership of over 500,000 contributing women and men in more than 550 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

10 Girls Incorporated is a As a nonpartisan organization the League national nonprofit youth of Women Voters has fought since 1920 to organization dedicated to improve our systems of government and inspiring all girls to be impact public policies through citizen strong, smart and bold. education and advocacy. The League’s With roots dating to 1864, enduring vitality and resonance comes from Girls Inc. has provided its unique decentralized structure. The vital educational programs League is a grassroots organization, working to millions of American girls, in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of particularly those in high- Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Hong Kong. risk, underserved areas. THESE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS have Today, innovative made great strides in influencing social programs help girls change and equality for all women; confront subtle societal however, there is still a long way to go. messages about their Simply reading books, watching TV or value and potential, and movies, or listening to the radio can show prepare them to lead the strength of stereotypes that still successful, independent and dominate our culture. fulfilling lives.

Choose some of our most popular magazines as an example and read through them with an eye for how genders are portrayed. ➤ Are women being represented fairly? Equally? Realistically? ➤ What can be done to reinforce the change the women’s movement fought for? ➤ What can you change in your daily life to support equality for everyone? “Every woman in this room has been they may unintentionally be tearing down taught that the desires and dreams of or ignoring another group to benefit their her husband, her son or her boss are own. Have you ever experienced this much more important than her own. situation? What can you do to make sure Now the only way to turn that around that while helping one person you are not is for us, right here, to try to make hurting another? what we want, what we desire, to be as vital to us as it would undoubtedly be “On a scale from one to ten, if you aim to any man.” for six and get six, everything will work out nicely. But if you aim for ten in all ➤ Much of the feminist movement was things and get six, you’re going to be prompted by this very idea—that for much very disappointed. And unfortunately, of America’s history, women were made that’s why you “quality time” girls to believe that men were more important are going to be one generation of than them. What do you think of Fran’s disappointed women…. The ones open- statement? Do you think that women were ing doors usually are.” held back by their own view that men were ➤ more important? In this statement Scoop is able to recognize much of Heidi’s discontentment with her “I keep allowing this guy to account for life. Do you believe that he is correct? Is it so much of what I think of myself. I true that you should aim low in your allow him to make me feel valuable. And expectations for yourself in order to make the bottom line is I know that’s wrong.” sure you achieve goals and are not disappointed, or should you aim for “ten?” ➤ Heidi admits a very painful truth to the group with this statement—that she allows “She’s a graphics assistant on the someone else to account for her self-worth. magazine. Runs around New York in While in Heidi’s case it is her relationship leather miniskirts and fishnet stockings. with Scoop that is deciding her value, in And she’s not very bright. She’s like that other cases it may be a child, career or entire generation.” parent that is making someone feel this ➤ way. Have you ever felt that some outside Betsy’s statement about this woman seems factor was making you feel a certain way a very broad generalization. Do you agree about yourself? How might you combat with her that a generation can so clearly influences that change the way you look at define its members? What generation are your own life and worth? you a part of? What are the characteristics of your generation? Do you fit the “…my liberation, my pursuit of definition? happiness and the pursuit of happiness of other men like me is just as “By now I’ve been so many people, politically and socially valid as hanging I don’t know who I am.” a couple of …paintings because they ➤ Susan spent so much of her life following were signed by someone named Nancy, trends and morphing herself into whatever Gladys or Gilda.” was the popular style at the time that she ➤ Peter’s statement to Heidi is a concern that never took the time to find who she truly is. many women battled during the feminist Do you know anyone like Susan? How movement. In some cases, when people would you encourage a person to be his or attempt to build up a specific social group herself? What are the personal and social obstacles that might prevent this?

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