What could make the movie Steel Magnolias considered a feminist movie?

Question by ben: What could make the movie Steel Magnolias considered a feminist movie?
We have to write a paper on what could make the movie a feminist movie. What are some details or what happens that could be considered feminist?

Best answer:

Answer by charlie_tuna57
Feminist activists have campaigned for women’s rights to bodily integrity and autonomy, and reproductive rights. So in the movie, Julia Robert’s character (Shelby) goes ahead with becoming pregnant — even though she knows that it will be detrimental to her health since she’s a severe diabetic. But… she has that right over her own body. Too, since diabetes is a disease in which one’s blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high, elevated glucose levels are not good for the baby, either. Babies born to diabetic mothers are usually extra large, etc. But…she goes ahead with becoming pregnant since she has that right. Note: An abortion is “harmful” to the unborn child, too, but a woman has that right since it’s her body, so a feminist would say.
However, the REAL reason that Shelby wants a baby (and not try to adopt) is because (and this is implied to her mother Sally Field) her husband must be cheating on her and/or their marriage is in jeopardy and having a baby will help hold onto her man. In other words, you have two opposing forces here at work, i.e., feminism vs. anti-feminism in the form of using female, selfish trickery to her advantage.
Unfortunately, the pregnancy did take it’s toll. After kidney failure and a transplant from her mother, M’lynn, Shelby dies (at age 21) shortly after the baby boy is born.

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