There’s a man pushing a baby in a stroller. Nearby A glamorous woman in a pantsuit removes her dark glasses and eyes the man up and down. He stumbles over an uneven part of the ground, and waits nervously for her to speak. The woman complains for a minute about how the apartment complex has been looking worse lately, like a jungle. She goes on for a bit longer, then ends in a chuckle.
“Oh…but you know, I should really be speaking to your wife about this,” then briskly walks away.
This is the reality in the French short film Oppressed Majority written and directed by Eleonore Pourriat. In the film, the stereotypical roles and oppression that usually target women, are switched to men.
The film depicts the day of the husband. In it, he passes by women running topless, women catcalling him, criticizing the suggestive clothes he is wearing (shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops), witnesses men being called “sweetie” at work, and is sexually harassed and abused by a group of women on the street. For 11 terrifying minutes men can dip into a twilight zone to see what it would feel like to be a woman for a day.
An uneasiness settles upon you while watching. The daily acts of men are suddenly exposed and so clear as harassment, and the daily fears of women never more plainly obvious.
It is not a perfect depiction of our society today. Intersectional feminism is not present, but rather the story of a white man and his white wife. A true “swap” wouldn’t be much of a switching at all. How could a film ever show all of the struggles a trans, homeless, black woman with a disability experiences? It couldn’t. And how could it be switched with an “opposite” to show its problems? It couldn’t
For many women, this film will speak true to at least part of the disadvantages and fears they may have. To be sentenced to a home life and cooking, to have fear in their hearts when walking home, to feel isolated and ignored when their partner cannot fully understand them. This film shows a lot of painful things, and I think it’s good.
It’s good because this week we have been following the case of Christine Blasey Ford announcing to the world that Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh assaulted her. I watched three hours of testimonies from both individuals and felt my literal heart shaking.
To see a man say “this is a joke,” when repeatedly asked the same question, to retort back to questioning lawyers, “I don’t know…have you ever done it?” and refuse to answer the question, to see dozens of white men backing up this man’s assault, because it’s their decision, it’s in their hands. It’s in their hands to not believe her. It eerily echoes depictions in the film.
It is vital in these times to view media like The Oppressed Majority. To reflect, to speak up when able, to support women who have been assaulted and to believe them. I will keep the ending of the film to myself, but encourage you to view it. It is a feeling that echoes in one’s spirit in times like this, in times that Ford is experiencing, and that we are watching.
Support your women friends, remember their struggles as a women may yet be different from yours. Make a scene. Take care of your girlfriends. Stay updated on the news of women in the media.
“The Oppressed Majority” should never be a reality that exists, but neither should ours. So let’s fight it.
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