Sexual Harassment & the Movie North Country



Sexual Harassment & the Movie North Country

This paper depicts the many instances of sexual harassment in the Charlize Theron starrer movie the North Country, released in 2005. To begin with, it is only prudent to give a detailed introduction about this movie screenplay, before the analysis.

The screenplay is inspired by a real life incidence, which also happens to be one of a America's trailblazing lawsuit against sexual harassment at workplaces. The time-period portrayed in the screenplay is that of early 1989, where the protagonist Josey Aims with her two children flees her home because of her abusive husband. Josey takes her children to her parent's house in her hometown in Minnesota. Her mother warmly welcomes the children and Josey home but her father gives them a cold reception. It is during these early days of her return that she and her parents become topic of ridicule amongst other local families. As the story progresses, its shown in flashbacks about the time when Josey was in high school and used to date a boy named Bobby Sharp, their relationship is brief and lasts until the time when young Josey finds out that she is pregnant. Later on, Josey and Bobby reunite as colleagues at the mine. The story also shows flashbacks to the scenes where a lawyer questions Josey about the harassment she faced at work.

Discussing further, the story shows the refusal of Josey's father to support her and his grandchildren financially. In addition, seeing the growing needs of her children Josey decides herself to seek employment. In a chance encounter with her old high school friend Glory, Josey decides to seek employment in an iron mining company located near her hometown. It is noteworthy to mention here that at the beginning of the movie, the premise stating that in the year 1975 the Supreme Court mandated women joining as equal and capable part of the workforce in the mining industry.

Conversely, Glory was already working at the mining field for few years and was a member of the union representing female mineworkers of the company. This was Josey's first proper job in life and on her first day at work, during orientation with other female workers, her coach continuously passes suggestive and untoward remarks concerning women and their sexual orientation. All the new female employees dismiss these these remarks and comments without ...