Welcome to Women Write Interview with Kathryn Schleich Excerpt Reviews of Hollywood and Catholic Women Project rates and guidelines Writing resources for women Graphic design, web design, and writing portfolio Free articles by Kathryn Schleich Women Write Blog International travel journal

Reviews

About Hollywood and Catholic Women:

"Another book about women is so unique that it deserves notice. It is Kathryn Schleich’s Hollywood and Catholic Women: Virgins, Whores, Mothers and Other Images (iUniverse). The author examines how the Church has dealt with women throughout its long history and how Hollywood has adopted its point of view in films such as Song of Bernadette, The Bells of St. Mary’s, A Nun’s Story, Agnes of God, and even Sister Act, to name just a few of those examined for their content and their message. You don’t need to be Catholic to enjoy this intellectual journey and I think any woman will find it resonates with her life. This book is now recommended among our Featured Books.

Bookviews by Alan Caruba, April 2004

 

"Kathryn Schleich's well-researched and highly readable analysis of how Catholic women are portrayed in film should be a requirement for any serious student of either women's issues or film or even the role of religion as it relates to society. It contains a wealth of information and insight and draws a very interesting relationship between the static patriarchy of the Catholic church and the male-dominated Hollywood production system.

Schleich presents a helpful glossary for non-Catholics and a useful overview of how women historically have been treated by the Catholic church with special attention paid to the impact -- or lack of same -- of the Second Vatican Council. Thus prepared the reader is then taken through 15 films (seven which Schleich refers to as of the clerical/religious genre and eight of the non-clerical/religious genre), given a brief synopsis of each film and then the author's intelligent analysis of the role of women and the church within each film.

Discussing such issues as the archetypal roles the church has assigned to women, the virgin-whore dichotomy, and the legitimacy of a male institution making decisions about women's lives, the author shows how these concerns and more play out both in the church in reality and in the movies as fiction.

An intriguing selection of films is made from the obvious (The Bells of St. Mary's and The Nun's Story) to the less obvious (Looking for Mr. Goodbar and Return to Me) to the truly inspired (Dogma). One just wishes she had included more. Personally I'd love to know her analysis of Household Saints or The Crime of Padre Amaro but perhaps there is a volume two already brewing in the author's mind. Let's hope so."

Beverley Buehrer, Freelance Reviewer
Beverley Buehrer has been a freelance writer since 1980 authoring numerous articles on film and history. She also is a contributing writer to Magill’s Cinema Annual and has published three books on film (Cary Grant: a Bio-bibliography, Boris Karloff: a Bio-bibliography, and Japanese Films). In addition to her many writings covering cinema, Buehrer is an instructor at Kishwaukee College where she teaches philosophy and history, as well as Continuing Education courses on writing and film.

Comments

About Hollywood and Catholic Women:

This was very interesting, even for a non-Catholic. It certainly sparked some lively conversation--okay, arguments, really--but always intellectually challenging and never resolved. In these troubling political times, it seems wise to revisit the place of women in strict, male-dominated hierarchies, or, more accurately, oligarchies. The lessons of Hollywood and Catholic Women should remind us all of how precarious women's gains are, how easily stripped of rights and responsibilities we may be by a handful of powerful men who think they know what's best for us all.

Christine, Minneapolis, MN

Thanks to Kathryn Schleich for not holding any punches at the patriarchy – wherever it shows its harmful face. I was not surprised that Hollywood mirrors the Church patriarchy’s treatment of women. Neither was I surprised at my disappointment in Hollywood’s failure to reflect the changes feminist Catholics have created in pews, schools, and communities around the world. I was delighted, however, at the insight and thought Schleich’s book shines on the contrast.

Kay, Minneapolis, MN

I read this book and found it to be an ambitious and fascinating study, one that will appeal to the hundreds of millions of Catholic Church members, as well as us outsiders who have always been curious about the history, the sanctity and the dogma of the Catholic religion, as well as the film industry and society in general. This work would seem to be a natural for anyone taking religious studies or sociology classes.

Some outside observers may believe that Hollywood and Western Civilization’s views and roles of woman are changing faster than the Catholic Church (few women in the upper echelons of the Church, priesthood, etc). Schleich describes the church as having a "subtle hostility toward women." Writing from somewhat of a feminist perspective, I can sense her frustration.

I was particularly struck by the fact that there was no mention of the adult film industry in the book. Before going too far with the "improving cinematic climate for woman," Schleich may want to examine what is under the soft white underbelly of the film industry. Someone explained that Hollywood may produce 400-500 films per year. The adult film industry (located to a large degree in and around the Hollywood area) produces about 10 times this amount per year. The industry sells billions of dollars of films each year and is growing at a rapid rate. Perhaps in the second edition of the book Schleich could make mention that although women are making strides in both the acting and executive ranks in mainstream Hollywood, they are also being exploited, subjugated and defiled in increasingly degrading, violent and perverse ways in what society defines as pornography.

Dave, Woodbury, MN

When I first started reading the book my interest waned considerably as I thought that the overriding theme was overdone in a chauvinistic manner, along with a little paranoia as it related to the treatment of Catholic women, and women in general. In any event, I continued reading the book until I seriously became interested. The first chapter or two were difficult for me to understand and appreciate, and I can only say that I was glad that I got over that initial negative reaction. All in all, great book!

Jerry, Lincoln, NE

 

Kathryn Schleich © 2006 
10220 Country Club Curve
Woodbury, MN 55129
kathrynschlei777@yahoo.com