This movie was based on a true story during WW2. This was time when many men were fighting over seas which left a lot of opportunities open for women here in the US. This movie was about women who started a women's baseball league. It starts by depicting two sisters who are good at softball living in a small farm town. Scouts (All-American Girls Professional Baseball League) had told them that they should tryout and with a little convincing Dottie Hinson and her sister Kit tried out. They were a good team match a pitcher and catcher for the Rockford Peaches. There couch played by Tom hanks was an alcoholic who was always yelling and telling them they could be better. By the end he lightened up, showing his heart. Dottie played like a star; making the paper and really holding the team together. Her and Kit got into a fight and Kit ended up getting traded to a different team. Dottie's husband came back from the war and Dottie quit because of it, but by the end Dottie came back to play the last game and it happened to be against her sisters team. Kit was up to bat and hit a far ball but it wasn't a home run. She rounded the third base and kept going for home. Dottie was waiting with the ball but she ended up dropping it and Kit scored and her team won.
This was the first time I had seen this movie before but I had hear good things about it. This film definitely dealt with gender issues. It made me recall the article called "In World War Two, Women Got to Work" by Betsy Kuhn. When Betsy talks about the jobs and opportunities that opened up for women because the men weren't here. The film shows that even sports were options for women then. This movie made women seem tough, strong and able to do what men do. It is very inspiring to see women push themselves and become so good at what they love to do.
I do consider it a feminist movie. It showed women with power, with strong backs and willing to work hard for the game. At the same time though they are still dominated by a male couch. Even though by the end he shows some heart to the girls and is ice to them, it is funny to me that the couch is male. It is like no matter were women turn there is always a male over them. I think this was also displayed when Dottie quit when her husband came back home. It was like the male is present in the home again and she felt out of her position playing in the game. I enjoyed that she can back to play the last game though. That showed me that she felt like she could do what she wanted without being swayed by an outside source. The fact that her husband was supportive was also key to me. He didn't try to make her not play and he let her make her own decisions, which was nice to see.
This movie was humorous and fun to watch. I rarely watch movies, so it was nice to sit down and watch a movie that was empowering to women and not selling women short. This movie make me realize that if you want something you have to be your own drive. One can't let gender, or any else get in the way of living life ones own way. I think that this story can relate to more then just sport issues. I think it showed me that women can be just as acomplished as men at what even they put there hearts and minds to.
Kelly Lever
Resources:
"In World War Two, Women Got to Work" Betsy Kuhn in 33 Things every Girl Should Know about Women's History
www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5949031/review/5949032/a_league_of_their_own
http://www.movie-gazette.com/cinereviews/539
Galt, Margot Fortunato. Up to the Plate: The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Minneapolis, Lerner Publications Co., 1995.
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