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norma rae

Norma Rae is a 1979 film about a woman in a small town in North Carolina who is fired from her job in a textile factory after she tries to organize a labor union. The film is based on the true story of union organizer named Crystal Lee Sutton. This scene, in which Norma Rae gains the support and solidarity of her co-workers, was a turning point in the movie and in Sutton’s real life. Sally Field, who plays Norma Rae, won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal.

discussion

The movie Norma Rae focuses not only on the rights of workers, but also the rights of women.  How in this scene is Norma discriminated against both as a worker and as a woman?

What adjectives would you use to describe the character of Norma Rae? Are these adjectives mostly positive, negative or a mix of both?

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