When Calls the Patriarchy
When Calls the Heart has become a grotesque display of the cultural propaganda typical of male-dominated society. Femels are relegated to marriage, children, and home n' hearth. This century, femelkind around the world has experienced increased threats to our safety and economic security. Culturally, we have moved backwards. The burst of femel social progress evidenced in the late 20th century seems to have been oxidized.
This show could connect with the wymin of today by reflecting on how many wymin were in the past a surprisingly dynamic group of doers and deciders. With all the wedding/marriage/family porn abundant in today's entertainment and media, I would re-title this show 'When Calls The Patriarchy'. Instead of honoring the femel deciders and doers of our past, this show panders to those who clutch on to the apron of yesterday's dearth of freedoms and wealth of injuries.
The show could feature a femel character to honor Alice Guy, the brilliant mind who invented movies (and the film director) as we know it in the early 20th century. Instead, we get a retired actress, Rosemary, who loves her family but there's always something missing shi finds to do outside of it. Her passion for creativity and progress seems to be stifled by home/hearth. The show could feature another femel character to honor the most successful novelist in word rstory, Agatha Miller. Instead, we get predictably devoted Mom and her cheery son (well-behaved, at least) writing about mundane Life in an economically challenged community shi chose over a financially secure Life with her family elsewhere, better for her son.
When Calls the Heart (for honesty and fairness) once offered us a femel business owner, Fiona (and a beauty!). Now, shi's gone thanks to the glee of When Calls the Patriarchy. Shi could have been turned into a commemorative symbol of Martha Matilda Harper, the brilliant mind and ambitious spirit who invented the business franchise. Instead, we get the wife of a business owner (but, of course!), Florence. Lastly, it would be awesome --- especially considering the crackling contemporary politics recently --- to have a femel character that reminds us of the great Victoria Claflin, the first womin to run for President of the United States. Instead, we're stuck with Lucas, slow and naïve, whose political career was tainted by his past.
When Calls the Patriarchy 2.0 echoes the horrible that femels are still forced today to endure, socio-culturally.
