Fair Play

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Fair Play
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Fair Play is a documentary that explores gender roles in relation to family workload. Using facts, studies, examples of real families, and a multitude of experts, writer-director Jennifer Siebel Newsom lays out how dated gender norms can create stress, unhealthy outcomes, and broken relationships within a family. The movie is adapted from Eve Rodsky's same-named book, and the author serves as narrator, explaining memorable points like "Toxic Time Messages" (i.e., "she makes less money, therefore her time is worth less") and how it's women who typically keep track of the household's invisible to-do list. Siebel Newsom makes it clear that the family labor-division gap isn't exclusive to any single group of people: She assembles families and experts representing a wide range of economic status, race, and ability. While the featured couples are all married and heterosexual, partners in LGBTQ+ marriages offer contrast to show the parity in domestic responsibilities when traditional gender roles are less of an issue. Don't expect most teens to be interested, as it's all presented as adults speaking to adults, including quite a bit of conversational cursing ("s--t" and "f--k") and some sexually suggestive jokes.
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What's the Story?
Adapted from Eve Rodsky's self-help book, FAIR PLAY examines the often uneven gender division of labor within families. Hearing from authorities in the space and real-life families struggling to find the right balance, Rodsky proves the importance of dividing household labor equally and gives advice on how to achieve that goal.
Is It Any Good?
For many people, especially women, Rodsky's message about the importance of work division in a family feels very validating. Fair Play acknowledges that women often shoulder most of the work in a family led by a heterosexual couple, leading to exhaustion and resentment. And that labor gap often morphs into something like an abandoned teeter-totter once children enter the picture. But before men go running from the room, know that director Jennifer Siebel Newsom still has your back. Her filmography demonstrates her passion for releasing people from unfair gender expectations, and she does that here, too. Rodsky's husband, Seth, owns up to his lack of participation and then takes steps to work with his wife to model how to be a more equitable partner.
All of that said, Siebel Newson meanders a bit from her point. She drifts into related areas that are equally important, but that waters down the primary message. Siebel Newsom (who's married to California Governor Gavin Newsom), her co-producing partner Hello Sunshine (led by Reese Witherspoon), and financier P&G collectively have the reach to get many powerful, intelligent, authoritative women to sit down for interviews. But it's just too many talking heads more or less saying the same thing, and it becomes a bit of a repetitive blur. On the other hand, Rodsky is a dynamic and engaging personality, and the families who tell their stories are mesmerizing. Through it all, viewers will watch with a measuring stick, gauging how they're doing in comparison to others. Rodsky makes some actionable recommendations, but it seems that for those looking for a full outline of how to reshape their family dynamic, you have to buy the book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what each member's role is in the household and how it could be more fair. What are things you do that you feel go unappreciated or unnoticed? How does Fair Play show that teamwork and communication are imperative in a family?
What is the invisible work or "cognitive labor" that Eve Rodsky describes? What is the mental load you take on in your own daily life?
Do you agree with Rodsky's proposal that, instead of trying to make the work balance equal, each partner should "own" their tasks? Why, or why not?
Before seeing Fair Play, what tasks did you assume were the responsibility of a wife/mother vs. a husband/father? Did any of your opinions change while watching the film?
Does anything make one partner's time more precious than the other's -- for example, if one partner makes more money?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 8, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: July 8, 2022
- Cast: Eve Rodsky, Ai-jen Poo, Katie Porter
- Director: Jennifer Siebel Newsom
- Studio: Gravitas Ventures
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Communication, Teamwork
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: August 12, 2022
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