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From its first stirrings in Brisbane in 1965 to its controversial incursions into the Whitlam government from 1973 to 1975, BRAZEN HUSSIES shows how women began organising around issues such as equal pay, reproductive rights, affordable childcare, and the prevention of family violence and rape. As the story unfolds, these issues go from being dismissed as the outrageous demands of a few “brazen hussies’’ to becoming crucial elements on the platforms of Australia’s major political parties.


From the radical arm of the ‘Women’s Libbers’ to the reform-focused groups such as the Women’s Electoral Lobby, BRAZEN HUSSIES shows the diversity of women involved, and the collective power it took to achieve change. The film explores how ASIO spied on the movement, the pushback by the male-dominated media, and the impact of internal struggles within the movement. Tensions emerge over the inclusion of lesbians and the relevance of the movement to Aboriginal women. These struggles are laid bare to show how the activities of a small group of determined women grew into a huge social movement and ultimately changed the lives and opportunities of ALL women.


Looking at these issues from the perspective of the time, BRAZEN HUSSIES reveals how the changes demanded by these women 50 years ago, have paved the way for where feminism finds itself today. While the landscape, breadth and diversity of feminism is vastly different today – without this movement and the changes it achieved, we wouldn’t be where we are now. Recording and celebrating this important history, offers a valuable opportunity to reassess and discuss where we are at as a society, what gains have been made, what is at risk and where we are headed.

  • Year
    2020
  • Runtime
    90 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    Australia
  • Director
    Catherine Dwyer
  • Screenwriter
    Catherine Dwyer
  • Producer
    Philippa Campey; Andrea Foxworthy
  • Executive Producer
    Sue Maslin
  • Cast
    Martha Ansara; Suzanne Bellamy; Shirley Castley; Eva Cox; Barbara Creed; Sara Dowse; Alva Geikie; Kerryn Higgs; Sue Jackson; Kate Jennings; Robin Laurie; Gillian Leahy; Iola Mathews; Margot Nash; Pat O'Shane; Elizabeth Reid; Anne Summers; Jeni Thornley; Merle Thornton; Daniela Torsh; Biff Ward; Lilla Watson; Rosemary West
  • Cinematographer
    Anna Howard; Erika Addis; Sky Davies
  • Editor
    Rosie Jones
  • Animator
    Juliet Miranda Rowe
  • Composer
    Amanda Brown
  • Sound Design
    Emma Bortignon