Best Mother's Day Movies for Every Betty

Waitress. This quirky 2007 dark comedy is exactly Betty Crocker's cup of feminist batter. The film clearly displays the causes dear to Betty C's heart: the creative outlet and opportunity available in the domestic arts, as well as the empowering strength (not weakness) of becoming of a mother. The plot begins as the struggling waitress Jenna is trying to enter a pie-baking contest to win money to escape her insufferable, infant husband Earl. In other words, Jenna's domestic skills-pie making-become not her noose, but her magical key out of her trapped life. 

But Jenna takes a few wrong turns along the way, namely getting knocked up. Once she gets pregnant, Jenna is resentful, making concoction such as "Damn Baby Pie"and flirting with her handsome doctor. Not exactly the stuff Mother's Day movies are made of. 

In the end though, it is the surprise twist at the compote-sweet ending with Baby Lulu that reveal that, while Jenna's pie-making skills gave her the tools to escape, only her fierce unexpected love for her new baby gave her the strength.  Standout Mother's Day Line: "We are going to have so much fun! So much fun!" 

Veronica Guerin. Steeped in cause feminism, Veronica Guerin tells the true story of a dogged Irish reporter and devoted mother who is murdered while attempting to expose the drug crimes in mid '90;s Ireland. Giving equal play to her political side and her maternal side, the film reveals Veronica is inspired to expose the drug dealers after watching children play with hypodermic needles in a slum. 

Played spectacularly by Cate Blanchett, the movie realistically showcases the sacrifices Veronica must make as a woman with both professional and domestic responsibilities. Displaying Betty-Ford worthy dedication to her cause, Guerin follows up onher case despite death threats to herself and her young son, despite having gun shots fired at her home, and despite being shot in the leg when she unknowingly answered the door to a riled up druglord. Bringing grim light to the term "working mother," one moment Guerin is grilling a kingpin, the next she's dancing goofily with her son and husband. In one scene, Guerin makes her husband promise to never admit to having seen her afraid. 

Like Betty Ford, Veronica Guerin's work had far-reaching political and legal implica

tions, including the establishment of the Criminal Assets Burea

u in 1996. 

After her death, furious citizens sprang into actions, organizing anti-drug marches in the street. Standout Mother's Day Line: "If you saw those kids in the street, you'd do the same." 

Marie Antoinette. Betty Spaghetti firmly supports the girly side of feminism, and this movie is nothing if not a Betty Draper-worthy orgy of girlishness. Cupcakes, tiny shoes, lilacs and teapots grace this glorious celebration of feminine decadence, created by the genius Sophia Coppola. 

In true Betty Draper fashion, this film explores the intersection between "princess" status and the frustration, boredom, and lack of individual identity that stems from marrying into power. In terms of Mother's Day, the idyllic scene between Marie Antoinette and her daughter Marie Therese at her village Petit Trianon is the stuff precious moments are made of. It doesn't get much sweeter than picking raspberries and feeding baby lambs in the field. A gorgeous soundtrack is just icing on the cupcake. Standout Mother's Day Line: "You are not what France wanted, but you are no less dear to me." 

Mr. Mom. For Betty Freidan, no Mother's Day movie would do except for a movie in which a man takes on a traditional caretaker role while mom goes out and does the breadwinning.A Desperate Housewife before his time, Michael Keaton tries to salvage his masculinity by playing poker for ten cent off coupons while his wife Teri Garr goes to work as an ad executive. Corny lesson-learning and cliched gender roles ensue, but this is still a groundbreaking movie considered it was made in 1983.  Standout Mother's Day line: "Katie! Don't paint your sister! 

Sensual Beauty: The New Chanel No 5 Short Film

Purrrrr. The new Chanel No 5 film "Train de Nuit" is absolutely, dreamily decadent. Featuring the pixie beauty Audrey Tatou, you will swoon at the mysterious train ride of two sexy strangers. Two words: pure intoxication. Savor! 

For an extra treat, check out this sneak peek at the storyboards, via Sassy Bella.

Why Twilight is Actually Terrible for Women

Don't get me wrong. I too thought the dreamy, darling courtship of Edward and Bella was dazzling at first. I cheered when he puts his arm around her in the parking lot. I swooned at the "You are my life now."  But after looking past the tasty chaste-y sweetness of this absorbing young adult novel, I realized Twilight is actually terrible for women. I'll tell you why in a minute. But first let's set some ground foundations.

First, we can all agree that one of the central messages of Twilight is the promotion of chastity. This is unsurprising because the 

book is written by a Mormon, Stephanie Meyer. Mormons, Christians, Right-Wingers are usually big fans of chastity for young girls. But, of course, these groups would be quick to tell you, they aren't pro-chastity just for chastity's sake. 'We're not party-poopers," they'd be the first to protest. "We don't oppose sex just to spoil teenage fun. We aren't against sex just for the sake of being against sex."

Ok great. So we've agreed that there's more to stopping young girls from having sex just for the mere sake of it. Let's move on to some common reasons why right-wingers, religious people, and also yours truly, a proud spaghetti feminist, might object to young girls having promiscuous sex. Well, one reason would be that sex puts girls in potential danger. Another reason would be that often sex is often linked to a lack of self-control, an inability to put the girl's best interests above your own. A final reason might be that sex introduces girls to dark, carnal thoughts, robbing them of their innocence and making them suddenly ashamed of their girlhood, of school and prom. Sex alienates them, isolating them from former peers and causing them to view other girls their age as silly and immature. Sex causes them to suddenly yearn to be older, wiser, and more soph

isticated than they are really ready to be.

Now, take out every instance of the word "sex" in the last paragraph and insert the word "Edward." You see what the problem I'm pointing to here is? Now, let's move on to outline exactly how thoroughly and completely Edward fails to match up to the religious ideal of a chivalric hero. 

Number one, he puts Bella in grave danger. In fact, he puts her in the smack in the hands of a twisted, sadistic homicidal maniac who wishes to draw out her death in the most painful, tortuous way.Oh, and he wants to do it on film.

Number two, Edward's complete and total lack of self-control (the self-control he needs to stay away from her) are what put Bella in this precarious position. 

Number three, Edward's influence on Bella leads her to very dark, carnal, disturbing thoughts.

She acquires truly dark and disturbing knowledge of flesh-eating vampires, drinking blood, and icy cold skin. She also begins-as so many new non-virgins do-to feel ashamed about her youth and her school-yard ways. She looks around like a post-Apple Eve and feels suddenly ashamed. Suddenly, Bella longs to be older, more worldly, more sophisticated like Edward. Post-Edward, just being a slightly bored high school girl isn't enough. Bella may technically be a virgin, but make no mistake: Edward completely and irrevocably robs Bella of her innocence. 

Basically the absurd message of the book boils down to a Pleasantville-style mom standing cheerily on her porch saying "Have her home two weeks from now and don't bother calling me once. Bringing her home in critical condition is fine, just make sure that hymen is in tact!" Honestly, after all Bella suffers at the expense at Edward, him sparing her her virginity seems like quite the technicality.

And when we begin to speak in the language of technicalities, now we get to the real, rotten core of the problem with this type of rancid right-wing ideology. The problem of course, as spaghetti feminists like myself have suspected for quite some time, is that the right-wing fixation on sexual purity does not in fact, have anything to do with preserving the well-being of women. Rather, it is a poorly thought out, simple and severe religious status symbol. It is sexual purity for sexual purity's sake, with no real rationale or reason. But nothing before the Twilight phenomenon highlights so starkly how truly dangerous this single-minded obsession with virginity actually is. You know how dangerous I think it is? I think it's a vampire, actually, a dark, twisted, insidious, silently stalking killer that would make your blood curl if you were ever able to read it's thoughts, to catch it in the light of day. 

Now, I would like to clarify again that I do agree wholeheartedly with right-wing and religious people that promiscuity is not a desirable or even tolerable pastime for young girls. I certainly think much heartache and trauma can result from a too-early sexual awakening. But what I posit here in this spaghetti feminism manifesto, is that there is one thing much more dangerous than girls exhibiting early sexual behavior. And that of course is the right-wing's singleminded fixation with stopping girls from exhibiting early sexual behavior. 

Indeed, when Bella wakes up in that hospital room, dazed, disorientated, ravaged and battered, her state is not that different from those who were victimized by this same fearful obsession at different times. Girls who are forced to undergo unsafe, back-alley abortions, who would die in their hospital beds because their mothers who would rather risk their daughter's life in a primitive, barbaric procedure than stand the shame of an unwed pregnant daughter. Or girls who get laid up in hospital beds with terminal illnesses like AIDs or cervical cancer because they are deprived of sex education and don't know simple prevention like condoms and vaccines. Girls, like Bristol Palin or Jaime Lynn Spears, who forfeit their lives to become teenage mothers long before they are ready because their right-wing parents believe abortion is bad. Jaime Lynn Spears and Bristol Palin should be applying for college. They should be picking out Ikea futons and worrying if they will like their roommate. Bella should be applying for college. Bella should be picking out Ikea futons and worrying if she will like her roommate. Bella, in her hospital room, on her near-death bed, woozy and wounded, is a symbol of how crazily excessive our obsession with virginity is. It's literally dangerous, and often deadly. This is why I think the Twilight series is actually terrible for women, and should not be read or supported by those who truly value women's welfare. 

Welcome to Betty Spaghetti

Welcome! If you are reading this, you are obviously awesome. Congrats! 

To introduce this blog, Betty Spaghetti is a blog about modern day feminism and women's issues. The name reflects my belief that today's feminist is a blend of the key Betties of the past and present-a little feisty like Betty Freidan, a little glamorous like Betty Draper, a little domestic like Betty Crocker, and a little politically aware (with a penchant for the booze) like Betty Ford. I am sure there is some smart math terms for this like Betty Squared Squared. But I'm not really into math, and I do know how to rhyme things. Hence Betty Spaghetti, and it's accompanying movement "spaghetti feminism." I have even created a glorious Betty blog key to help customize your reading experience! Simply see which Betty icon appears in the post to determine whether the story will be feisty, glam, political or domestic. Maybe in true spaghetti form it will be a wittily whisked version of all four! Who knows?! Anyway, please enjoy my fresh and spicy commentary on all things feminist!