"We're living in a media-saturated society, where entertainment and politics are closely intertwined," NOW President Patricia Ireland observed. "Remember TV's Murphy Brown giving an angry response on her show after Dan Quayle's real-life election-year attack on her for being a single mother?"
Violence, especially sexualized violence, by men against women is a widely accepted staple of television, movies, music, videos and computer games. Yet the few times the formula is reversed, the condemnation by angry male critics is loud and clear.
Responding to attacks on the title characters' violence against men in "Thelma and Louise," Geena Davis said "Let's get real here for a second. Ninety-nine percent of all other movies are about women either having shallow, one-dimensional caricature parts or they're being mutilated, skinned, slaughtered, abused, exploited with their clothes off." (Quoted in NOW member Suzanna Danuta Walters' book "Material Girls.")
"NOW is committed to becoming a major force in communications," said Helen Grieco, chair of the Task Force. "We are determined to control our own message."
Controlling NOW's image is also on the agenda in Los Angeles. NOW will premiere an advertising campaign designed to present the organization to the public on NOW's own terms. The television and print ads are being created pro bono by the Bomstein Agency, a well-respected Washington, D.C. advertising and public relations firm.
"We're thrilled with the Bomstein Agency's tremendous commitment of time and talent on this project," said Ireland. "The ads portray the great diversity of NOW's activists and the substantial improvements we have earned for women: making women more independent, winning more economic opportunities for women, empowering women to control our own lives and destinies."
"The campaign will also use hard-hitting issue ads that make clear how much NOW is still needed," Ireland concluded.
This gathering of feminist generations will provide even greater opportunities than most conferences to catch up with friends, be inspired and gain new insight into NOW's issues, philosophy and history.
Activists at the conference will also revisit NOW's statement of purpose to ensure that it portrays the organization's mission at the turn of the century. The purpose will be considered in light of the Declaration of Sentiments, NOW's new vision statement adopted by delegates at last year's historic conference. Proposals for an updated statement of purpose will be circulated throughout the organization and will be voted on as a by-laws amendment at the Miami national conference in the year 2000.