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Norma Rae- a Leadership Analysis

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Norma Rae- a Leadership Analysis
NORMA RAE

“If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”
Abigail Adams
(www.wisdomquotes.com)

The above stated lines very truly represent the spirit of Norma Rae and the power of women. The quotation highlights the two main points shown in the film; the strength and determination of women and the idea of equal representation for all. The film portrays the transformation of an oppressed woman, who was destined to be a follower, into a charismatic leader who bought about changes that benefited more than just a few.
Norma Rae is based on the life of Crystal Lee Sutton. Crystal Lee Sutton, (formerly Crystal Lee Jordan) is an American union organizer and advocate who gained fame during the early 1970s. She was fired from her job at the J.P. Stevens plant in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina for trying to unionize its employees. She made $2.65 an hour folding towels. The Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union won the right to represent the workers at the plant on August 28, 1974. Jordan later became a paid organizer for the ACTWU. (Source - Wikipedia.com).

The Film
The concept of “The Other” has always been an intriguing one. It deals with the issues related to the far-off, mysterious, different ones; perhaps one from the minority group. “The Other”, is a personification of the under-dog; a reflection of an unresolved mystery of a vastly discriminated against, seemingly alien sect which ought to be oppressed due to its timid, distant, less understood and submissive profile (Clemens et al, 2000). And, speaking of our 1979 movie, Norma Rae’s protagonist, a dull, ordinary-looking, lost in the hum-drum life of a mill-worker, she appears to be destined to a lifetime of ‘despondent drudgery’ (Clemens et al, 2000). Norma Rae comes across as an ordinary worker who must follow the O.P. Henley Textile Mill timings and just do



References: Bass, B.M. (1990), Bass & Stogdill 's Handbook of Leadership: Theory, Research & Mangerial Applications. New York, Free Press Bass, B.M Clemens, J. and Wolff, M. (2000). Movies to Manage By. McGraw-Hill Crainer, S Ethical Leadership. Center for Ethical Leadership. Available from: http://www.ethicalleadership.org/philosophies/ethical-leadership (Accessed on : 1 March 2009) Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R Grint, K. (2005). Leadership: Limits and Possibilities.Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan Halpern, B.L Heider, J.(1993). The Tao of Leadership.Cambridge : Gower Heller, T Hogan, R. and Kaiser,R.B. (2004). What We Know About Leadership. Review of General Psychology Howell, J.P Jackson, B. and Parry, K. (2008). A Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book About Studying Leadership. London: Sage. Katz, J.H. and Miller, F.A. (1996). 'Coaching Leaders Through Culture Change '. Consulting Psychology Journal, 48. Kotter, J. (1990), A Force for Change, How Leadership Differs from Management. New York, Free Press McCall, M.W Pierce, J.L. and Newstrom J.W. (2008) Leaders and the Leadership Process. Singapore: McGraw Hill Robbins, S.P Welsch, J.R. and Adams, J.Q. (2005) Multicultural Films. Greenwood Publishing Yeo, R Yukl, G. (1998). Leadership In Organisations. NJ: Prentice-Hall Zenger, J.H Women Quotes. Available from: http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_women.html (Accessed on : 23 February 2009) http://www.betterworld.net/quotes/leadership-quotes.htm (Accessed on : 23 February 2009)

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