What Happens in Brazen Hussies?
The complete story of Brazen Hussies, from the first scene to the last, in 169 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
This film documents the evolution of second-wave feminism in Australia, spanning the pivotal decade from 1965 to 1975 and concluding with the celebration of International Women’s Year.
The narrative opens with powerful footage of Merle Thornton and Rosalie Bognor chaining themselves to a pub counter rail at the Regatta Hotel in Brisbane, featuring a young Sigrid Thornton waving a women’s liberation flag. The documentary explores critical legislative and societal milestones, including:
- Reforms introduced under the Whitlam government.
- Amendments to legislation to ensure equal pay.
- The establishment of the first rape crisis centres and women’s shelters.
- The creation of new income support systems for single parents.
The film highlights the intense struggle for these rights, depicting women facing police brutality and public violence while engaging in acts of civil disobedience. These archival records are complemented by interviews with prominent feminists, including Anne Summers, Pat O’Shane, and Elizabeth Reid. Additionally, the film examines how the feminist movement intersected with the anti-apartheid and anti-Vietnam war movements, featuring rare footage captured by ASIO.
Brazen Hussies Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Chained to the Bar for Equality” to “International Women's Year, 1975”. 2 events name a place, across 2 locations.
- 1
Chained to the Bar for Equality
The film opens with archival footage of Merle Thornton and Rosalie Bognor chaining themselves to a pub counter rail at the Regatta Hotel. The daring protest challenged the laws and customs that kept women out of public bars in Queensland. Images of the demonstration became iconic symbols of the emerging Australian feminist struggle.
When:1965 Where:Regatta Hotel, Brisbane
- 2
Young Sigrid Thornton Waves the Flag
Among the early footage, Thornton's daughter, future screen star Sigrid Thornton, is seen aged 12 waving a women's liberation flag alongside her mother. The image shows how activism crossed generations within families. It also introduces the deeply personal dimension that runs through the documentary.
When:early 1970s
- 3
The Women's Liberation Movement Emerges
Building on early protests, women's liberation groups took root across Australia, demanding equality in work, law, and everyday life. Activists organised in collectives and carried their grievances from meeting rooms onto the streets. This grassroots energy set the stage for the legislative battles that followed.
When:circa 1969-1972
- 4
Convergence with the Anti-Vietnam War Movement
The documentary shows that feminist activism grew alongside the anti-Vietnam war movement, with many women cutting their teeth in these mass campaigns. Shared tactics such as street marches, sit-ins, and civil disobedience linked the causes together. This overlap gave the women's movement hard-won political experience and momentum.
When:early 1970s
- 5
Solidarity with the Anti-Apartheid Struggle
The film also situates Australian feminism within the anti-apartheid movement of the same era. Feminists drew inspiration from the global protest networks and the activist culture of the age. This context frames the early 1970s as an explosive decade of intersecting social movements.
When:early 1970s
- 6
The Whitlam Government Takes Office
The election of the Whitlam government opened a window for sweeping social reform. Feminists successfully lobbied the new administration, which moved quickly on issues such as equal pay and welfare support. The documentary traces how years of activism finally translated into government policy.
When:1972 Where:Canberra
- 7
Equal Pay Wins Written into Law
Amendments to legislation delivering equal pay formed one of the movement's landmark victories. Campaigners had long protested that women earned far less than men for comparable work. The reforms marked a fundamental shift in the legal and economic status of Australian women.
When:1972-1974
- 8
The First Women's Shelters Open
Activists established the nation's first women's shelters to protect women and children fleeing violence. Set up largely on volunteer energy, the refuges filled a gap that no existing state institution addressed. Their success forced governments to treat women's safety as a serious policy issue.
When:1973-1974
- 9
Rape Crisis Centres Are Founded
Alongside the shelters came the first rape crisis centres, offering counselling and support to survivors. These services challenged a prevailing culture of silence around sexual violence. They also pushed questions of consent and women's bodily autonomy into the public debate.
When:1973-1974
- 10
Income Support for Single Parents
The Whitlam government introduced new income support for single parents, a change the movement had long demanded. The benefit acknowledged that women raising children alone deserved a genuine social safety net. It signalled a shift from viewing such support as charity toward recognising it as a right.
When:1973
Show the other 5 events of Brazen Hussies Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Direct Action: Chaining to Buildings
The film repeatedly shows women chaining themselves to buildings as a signature protest tactic of the era. These dramatic actions were designed to make everyday discrimination impossible to ignore. They kept sustained pressure on politicians, the media, and the public alike.
When:1965-1975
- 12
Violence Against Women on the Frontline
Archival footage and testimony recall protesters being beaten by police and by members of the public. The violence underlined just how contested even basic demands for equality were at the time. The film uses these raw images to honour the risks women took simply to be heard.
When:1965-1975
- 13
ASIO Watches the Movement
Included in the documentary is footage captured by ASIO, the national security agency that surveilled Australian activist groups. The material reveals how seriously authorities regarded the decade's social movements, feminism included. This surveillance imagery offers a chilling counterpoint to the activists' own records of their struggle.
When:early 1970s
- 14
Feminist Pioneers Tell Their Stories
Interlaced with the archival material are interviews with prominent feminists including Anne Summers, Pat O'Shane, Elizabeth Reid, and Eva Cox. They reflect on the strategies, conflicts, and triumphs of the decade. Their personal voices connect the historical footage to lived experience.
- 15
International Women's Year, 1975
The story culminates in 1975, celebrated around the world as International Women's Year. A decade of protest, reform, and cultural change reached a moment of global recognition. The film closes by showing how the Australian movement had transformed both the law and everyday life for women.
When:1975
Quiz
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