Happy HNT! Get your Cowgirl on!

Me & some of my fellow cowgirls at a recent round up ~ Yeehah!



Last night, I watched the Movie NORTH COUNTRY once again. There are many things that I like about this film. Three of them being the leading actresses; Charlize Theron, France McDormand and Sissy Spacek.

Based on an inspiring real-life event that took place in the late 80's, North Country stars Miss Theron in a low-glamour, but high-impact role as Josey Aimes, one of only a handful of women working in the Minnesota iron mines. Forced to labor under sexist conditions, she and her female colleagues decide to stand up against the unrelenting harassment from their male counterparts.

A fictionalized account of one of America's most groundbreaking sexual harassment lawsuits comes to the screen in this hard-hitting drama. Aimes returned to her hometown in Minnesota and followed the lead of her old friend Glory (Frances McDormand), who had bucked tradition and found a job in the iron mines that had long provided employment for much of the community. Aimes found herself the growing target of sexist jokes and abhorrent behavior from the male miners, she found that many of her female co-workers were reluctant to stand beside her, afraid of losing a good-paying job at a time when they were increasingly hard to find. The right for females to work in the mines had been mandated by law almost 15 years prior, but as a personal crisis became a public war of words, Aimes became the center of a nationwide controversy when she attempted to file a class action sexual harassment suit against the mine owners, and won setting groundbreaking precedence.

One of my favorite scenes in the film takes place when Glory is riding along in Josie’s truck on her first day working at the mine. Glory asks Josie, “So are you a cowboy, or a cowgirl?” Giggling, Josie answers, “A cowgirl.” Then Glory reminds her that they are working in a man’s world and she admonishes Josie to “Get your cowboy on!” I just love all that this phrase inspires. The female’s ability to embrace her Yang and get down & dirty with the best of the boys. The idea that becoming rugged, rough and ready for anything can be turned on, like a switch. After all, Attitude is everything!

Charlize & Francis were both nominated in 2005 for Academy Awards for their leading and supporting roles respectively. Does anybody know who won the Oscars for Best Actress, and Best Supporting Female Performances that year? For extra Bonus points name the male winning actors that year as well. You are all on your honor not to Google the results. The first one to name all four actors will win a prize! And I promise it will be a movie worthy treat.

For more information about HNT, North County and the class action lawsuit, please visit these links.