Running Mate

Running Mate Synopsis

Geraldine Ferraro's 1984 Vice Presidential candidacy provided editorial cartoonists access to a rich and previously untapped lode of material. RUNNING MATE examines their portrayals of the first woman ever to appear on a major party Presidential ticket.

Drawn from a study of 172 cartoons in 12 U.S. newspapers, RUNNING MATE reveals the gender stereotypes which hounded the Mondale/Ferraro ticket from the moment she was chosen. Her political and legislative record notwithstanding, Ferraro was first and foremost a woman in a situation where, according to one cartoon, "any woman will do."

Ferraro's nomination was compared to the selection of winners in the Miss America pageant. She was depicted in domestic, romantic, or explicitly sexual contexts. And as the campaign progressed, Mondale and Ferraro became a couple in the traditional sense of husband and wife, although she often "wore the pants."

Including interviews with Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonists Signe Wilkinson and Tom Toles, and featuring Ferraro's own reactions to the caricatures, RUNNING MATE is an eye opening look at the role of gender in U.S. politics

Film Credits

Produced By:

  1. Elaine K. Miller

Written By:

  1. Katherine Denison
  2. Tanya Weinberger

Special Thanks to:

  1. Geraldine Ferraro

Support This Film: Exercise Democracy

Exercise Democracy

Democracy doesn’t function unless citizens participate in the political process. Without it, the system can be undermined by money, power and corruption. Learn More »

DISCUSS RUNNING MATE

connect with snagfilms

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Newsletter
When and where you want SnagFilms Everywhere »

What's Hot

  • Secret Life of Cats

    Secret Life of Cats

    What is your cat doing when it slips out of the house? You'll learn more about your pet than you might want to know!

  • The Beautiful Truth

    The Beautiful Truth

    The World's Simplest Cure for Cancer

  • Okie Noodling

    Okie Noodling

    Okie Noodling profiles the culture and sport of noodling, barehanded fishing

SnagFilms Everywhere

Watch SnagFilms when and where you want

SnagFilms Everywhere

Recent Movie News

Please login to rate this film.
Please login to add this film to your queue.
Please login.