Watching Saturday Night Fever in 2018 is Like Watching a Horny Teenage Boy's Fantasy That is Really Every Woman's Nightmare in Real Life

It's always interesting going back to watch older movies or TV shows you used to love, and realizing how sexist and racist they really were.  My husband and I decided to have a mini John Travolta marathon Sunday and watched Grease and Saturday Night Fever.  Chris had never seen either, and I'm not sure if I had ever watched all of the latter.  So, it was really fun and exciting for me to experience Chris watching these for the first time, because they're such American classics and musicals are so very American, in general.

Grease, I've always loved for the music, the dancing, and the costumes, and I still do; but when you think about the ultimate message to women, it's rather unsettling.  Of course, don't expect me to boycott Grease,or start hating it now--but it's a good reminder of how far we've come, and how far we still have to go.

As for Saturday Night Fever...wow.  At first I wondered if it was just me that was so offended, because the female characters are SO BAD; but when Chris also looked dumbfounded, and bewildered as to how this film got so much acclaim, I'm glad we were on the same page.  The only thing we both enjoyed about the film was the music; other than that, we were almost confused.  Of course, if this movie were made today, it would most likely be a very poorly received film no matter who stars in it.

Let's just look at the two supporting female characters.  You have Annette, who is so desperate for Tony's attention and affection, she is made to look like a complete fool.  I'm not sure what's worse though--her desperation or the male characters' reaction to her desperation.  When she tries to make Tony jealous by making out with Double J, she ends up getting gang raped in the back of the car by two of the guys and no one says or does anything.  Then to make it worse, Tony who is sitting in the front seat the whole time blames her for what happened as if she deserved it.  It's blatant victim blaming.  I had to stop and make sure I was understanding what I was seeing, because I kept thinking, no way they just portrayed a gang rape in such a way, like it was okay.

Then we have our lead's real love interest, our stuck up, too good for her roots, putting on a front Stephanie. So, she's supposed to be the stronger, smarter, more feminist female character; but the writers made her so extremely the opposite of Annette that she was like an ignorant man's version of a feminist.  Not to mention, her acting was quite unbearable. Also, thank goodness for teeth whitening toothpaste nowadays.  

Can we also talk about how in both Grease and Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta's characters sexually assaults his love interests?  The only way they get out of it is by forcing their way out of it.  So, while the 70's were a time of more sexual freedom, it's clear men still thought they owned women.  Even though Travolta's characters apologize for their bad behavior, and in both he portrays a conflicted bad boy with a good heart deep down inside, Danny Zuko and Tony Manero are pigs.  

So, here are a few realizations and lessons I learned from re-watching both movies now as an adult and in 2018:

• If I ever have children and watch Grease with them (I don't think I'll ever watch Saturday Night Fever again), I will make sure I am watching with them and providing commentary of how wrong and outdated a lot of the social behaviors displayed are.
• Educating people on what consent really is SO important.  You think people would know, but sometimes they just don't.
• We need to portray strong women not just through their sexual freedom.  It's great to own and embrace one's sexuality and sexuality; but there's a lot of other ways to show strength.  Not to mention, let us not confuse sexual freedom, with confidence.  Confidence can include sexual freedom, but sexual freedom does not necessarily mean confidence.
• If for no other reason, I'm glad I don't smoke to save my teeth from looking like the dentures of a decaying skeleton.
• Teenage boys are scary.
• Teenagers in general are scary.
• Why are teenagers so mean????

What do you all think about this?    Let me know!

BIG LOVE & HUGS

Love,

​Justine