By
Sheila Bapat
Art that imitates political life is pretty common.
But art that imitates the politics of gender - accurately - is rare and impressive. Rod Lurie's "The Contender" does just that. It tells the story of the fictional Sen. Laine Billings Hanson and her quest for the vice-presidency. It's the kind of movie that makes a columnist want to wear a film critic's hat.
Besides boasting the talents of some of the best dramatic actors today (Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges), it dares to address an issue that few major motion pictures do: gender and politics
It is, then, quite a travesty that the issue is so under-addressed, given how many of the fictional Sen. Hanson's real-life counterparts have struggled for decades with the often conflicting realities of being a woman and being a politician.
When Sen. Laine Billings Hanson (Allen) becomes an appointee for vice president after the current VP buys the farm, her gender takes center stage. Her entire being - abilities, credentials, sex life - are placed under the national microscope.
For the first time, a woman's political journey is accurately portrayed on big screen, even though the real-life Sen. Hansons have been struggling with it for decades.
Elly Anderson is a woman who has seen the real political scene evolve for women. The former Chair of the Arizona Women's Political Caucus has worked with dozens of Sen. Laine Billings Hanson's real-life counterparts. She currently assists in Democrat Sharon Bronson's quest for reelection to county supervisor.
"Ever since college I've been involved in some campaign or another. Gradually it became only women that I worked for," Anderson said. "We just don't have parity yet. And it'll be another 100 years before we get parity if we don't work hard."
Anderson came to Arizona in 1971 and began working for female candidates. She has worked on nearly 40 campaigns thus far.
"When I came here I wasn't satisfied with the Democratic or Republican party. They weren't paying enough attention to women's issues," Anderson said. "In 1972 I heard about NWPC, the political arm of the women's movement. It's aim was to get more women in policy-making positions, to elect more women and get women appointed to boards."
And getting elected is just the beginning. Furthering a career continues to be a struggle. "The Contender" portrays the very politics of politics - particularly the misogyny. The film's fictional Sen. Hanson refused to answer personal questions about her sex life. When President Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges) and his cabinet pressure her to answer media and Congressional committee members' questions about a college sex romp that she allegedly engaged in, she says, "It is simply beneath my dignity."
In a spectacular concluding speech, President Evans defends Sen. Hanson and demands that she be appointed vice president.
He also points his finger at Congress for discrimination based on gender.
Back to reality: a president has never made such a frank statement about sexism in politics.
And a candidate for public office would never be able to get away with skirting questions about sexuality.
In reality, politicians like Hanson have to respond lest their careers end.
When Anderson was the Southern Arizona coordinator for Janet Napolitano's race for Attorney General in 1998, Napolitano faced similar curveball questions - not about a sex romp, but about her sexuality. A radio talk show host asked Napolitano if she was a lesbian because she is single and forty.
Napolitano responded by saying, "I'm single, I'm straight and I'm a workaholic."
"It's annoying as heck to have to deal with stuff like that," Anderson said. "But it's there. Fortunately Napolitano is so intelligent, and it just shines right through."
Anderson has worked in politics since her college days at University of Minnesota, when the idea of women running for any public office was taboo.
Now, Anderson says America is on the verge of electing a female chief executive.
The stereotypical woman in politics which Allen so deftly portrays is still facing the world of short hair and business suits that screams masculine preference but that the average person would never pick up on.
"The Contender" leaves Sen. Hanson on the stepping stone toward the presidency.
If only life would imitate art.
