Closed Captioned
Study Guide
Grades 10-12, College, Adult
Produced by The National Film Board of Canada
DVD Purchase $250, Rent $75
VHS Purchase $250, Rent $75
US Release Date: 1996
Copyright Date: 1995
DVD ISBN: 1-59458-933-X
VHS ISBN: 0-7722-0680-5
Subjects
Biography
Business Practices
Economics
Environment
Globalization
History
Humanities
Law
Social Justice
Social Psychology
Sociology
Women's Studies
Awards and Festivals
Gold Apple, National Educational Media Network Competition
West Virginia International Film Festival
Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital
Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies and Global Economics
Marilyn Waring demystifies global economics from a feminist perspective.
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"Will forever change your perception of justice, economics... Watch this film." Gloria Steinem |
Marilyn Waring is the foremost spokesperson for global feminist economics, and her ideas offer new avenues of approach for political action. With persistence and wit she has succeeded in drawing attention to the fact that GDP has no negative side to its accounts--such as damage to the environment--and completely ignores the unpaid work of women. "Why is the market economy all that counts?" Ms. Waring asks.
In 1975, when she was just 22 years old, she was elected to the New Zealand parliament. She was re-elected three times and eventually brought down the government on the issue of making New Zealand a nuclear free zone.
When she was chairperson of the Public Expenditures Committee, she perfected what she calls the "art of the dumb question." Ever since she has challenged the myths of economics, its elitist stance, and our tacit compliance with political agendas that masquerade as objective economic policy.
This film has inspired many people, notably the Who's Counting Project, to work on human-scale economic alternatives, local currency exchanges, and more humane ways of measuring the quality of life.
THIS VERSION is shortened from the director's original 94-minute cut and was edited with educational and group screenings in mind, where length is an important factor. The main difference between the two versions is that the original uses a striking and effective stylistic device. It is divided into chapters, and is a much more intimate encounter with Marilyn Waring. Here the focus is narrowed mainly to her ideas. Both versions are extremely impressive.
Reviews
"Meeting Marilyn Waring on film will forever change your perception of justice, economics, and the worth of your own works. Watch this film."
"I give this film (and Ms. Waring, of course) every superlative...riveting, revealing, inspiring etc. It penetrates to the heart of the global, ecological, and social crisis that afflicts the world."
"A devastating critique of monetized economics, portrayed with compelling beauty and humor by Oscar-winning director Terre Nash. The film contrasts the vast, uncounted productivity of nature and women worldwide with United Nations-mandated national accounting systems rooted in military economics."
" Waring is one of the liveliest speakers I've ever heard...She also has an uncanny ability to put complex information into easily opened packages...If knowledge is power, WHO'S COUNTING is an empowering gift."