Abstract
This film focuses on the Raging Grannies, an activist group in the San Francisco Bay Area comprising elderly women whose peaceful protests include antiwar demonstrations, rallies for environmental safety, protests of immigration policy, and advocating legalized gay marriage. The activities of the group are chronicled in the film Raging Grannies: The Action League, which introduces the group’s members and their activist work.
When I first viewed the video, I was concerned about its seriousness as initially it conveys the tone of a mock documentary in which the women’s activities are lampooned. Indeed, it may be initially easy for viewers to see the film as a spoof, especially when some of the first scenes present older women in strange clothing carrying picket signs, especially when they claim they are subject to government surveillance. In addition, they appear self-deprecating, especially as they talk about getting lost while driving and when they stumble to answer interview questions. For instance, when asked about their organization and its growth, one Granny replies, “We have no idea,” and everyone laughs. More, the women mention how their outlandish dress conveys a sense of buffoonery for the group. At the outset of the video, viewers might well ask themselves, “Am I supposed to be taking this seriously?”
However, midway through the film, something begins to change, and the documentary starts to portray the Grannies in a new light, one of profound empowerment and acceptance. The viewer begins to notice that the Raging Grannies disregard the importance of their appearance and for that matter how others may perceive their activities. The fundamental motivation for the group is to convey their social and political messages, even if in doing so they risk ridicule, scorn, or even time in jail. Ultimately, the Grannies conveyed in this film are intelligent, engaging, and empowered, even though some may endure age-related physical limitations. Through individual interviews with some of the Grannies, viewers are drawn into their past, gaining an understanding of how it informs their current activist work. As the films closes, viewers can see how the film addresses the importance of civic engagement through any stage of the life course and how history, especially the women’s and civil rights movements, are important antecedents for contemporary activist movements.
Raging Grannies is inspirational in that it gives a voice to a group in America that is frequently overlooked: older women. In addition, the film is thought provoking because it addresses major social issues in contemporary America although these issues are sometimes merely implied. The issues include civil rights, organizational corruption, gay rights, discrimination, environmentalism, and ageism. Whatever the cause, provided it is helping the better good, the Raging Grannies will do their best to stand for and educate others.
While the film obliquely addresses ageism, the issue is not directly discussed, although perhaps my assumption that the film might address ageism is in itself a sort of ageist assumption. Nonetheless, the responses the Raging Grannies receive to their protests often imply an underlying ageism. For example, when the Grannies stage a protest at a military recruiting station, a woman suggests that instead of picketing, they would probably be more comfortable writing their congressperson. Similarly, personnel in the National Guard treat the Grannies like they are, in one Granny’s words, “senile old women.”
Nevertheless, despite the strengths of this video, there are some weaknesses. This video is politically biased toward those who are strongly liberal. Individuals who are more conservative could be offended by the Raging Grannies’ remarks about President Bush, to whom they refer as the “resident of the White House,” as well as their strong opposition to war and gun use.
Aside from those possible limitations, however, I would recommend showing Raging Grannies in a classroom setting. The film is appropriate for both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses; Raging Grannies would be beneficial to any gerontology class or sociology class on aging and the life course as well as any course that is focused on social movements and civic engagement. It could be used to stimulate class discussion about many of the social themes it conveys, including aging, activism, protest, and human rights. After viewing the film, introductory students might engage the following questions: What are the ageist underpinnings in this movie? Do you agree with the Raging Grannies’ use of humor to get their point across? and Do you agree with what the Raging Grannies are doing? While watching Raging Grannies, students may develop an appreciation of activism and civic engagement but perhaps also an understanding that aging is not the enemy. As one granny stated, becoming old does not mean becoming a “vegetable.”
Raging Grannies is enjoyable, engaging, educational, and inspirational. Although it may have a mockumentary start, this short film of only 30 minutes shows its value in encouraging viewers to be more socially involved, and it conveys positive, empowered images of older women.