Feminism has shaped the society we live in. But just how far has it brought us, and how relevant is it today? This feature documentary zeroes in on key concerns such as violence against women, access to abortion, and universal childcare, asking how much progress we have truly made on these issues. Rich with archival material and startling contemporary stories, Status Quo? uncovers answers that are provocative and at times shocking.
A recurring theme in Status Quo is that the advancement of women’s rights has stalled, if not begun to regress. What evidence of this do we see in the film? As a class, chart the progress that has been made since the 1967 Royal Commission on the Status of Women. Create a Venn diagram to compare the case of Dr. Morgentaler with Rowe v. Wade. Discuss whether it is possible to separate reproductive rights from women’s rights.