TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

Labor Day, a national holiday celebrated on the first Monday of September, honors the contributions of American workers and their relentless fight for fair labor practices. While it's a day often associated with barbecues, parades, and the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day's roots are steeped in the labor movement's history—a history marked by both progress and setbacks. One film in our library that captures the harsh realities workers have faced is the 1993 made-for-TV movie For Their Own Good , directed by Ed Kaplan. For Their Own Good tells the harrowing story of Sally Wheeler, a factory worker at the crossroads of personal freedom and economic survival. Set in a small-town factory, Sally and her fellow female workers are given an unimaginable ultimatum: agree to be sterilized or lose their jobs. The film is based on true events , reflecting a dark chapter in labor history where workers, particularly women, were subjected to coercive practices under the guise of ...