By Amanda Crouch, Sponsorship Chair
One of my new favorite summer television shows is The Astronaut Wives Club, which airs on ABC on Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm. Based on the 2013 New York Times bestseller with the same title by Lily Koppel, The Astronaut Wives Club is an American period drama series created for ABC. The series tell the story of the wives of the Mercury Seven astronauts who pioneered the first manned space flights between May 1961 and May 1963 during the height of America’s race to the moon. When the Mercury Seven were selected in 1959, they became instant superstars in the Cold War space race with Russia, and their seven wives became American royalty. The wives had tea with First Lady Jackie Kennedy at the White House, appeared on the cover of Life Magazine, shared in a $500,000 publicity contract and became fashion icons. As a self-proclaimed history junkie, I love the historical aspect of this show, which features vintage black and white video clips from the actual launches interspersed with the fictional scenes and portrays the women as similarly as possible to their real-life counterparts. During a recent episode, however, I took issue with the show’s portrayal of the perception of and purpose for the Junior League.
In the fourth episode, entitled “Liftoff,” NASA relocates
the astronauts and their wives to Houston, Texas to be closer to mission
control. At a welcome BBQ with members of “Houston Society,” Jo, one of the astronaut
wives, meets a member of the Junior League of Houston and scores an invitation
for all of the wives to a Junior League of Houston gala. Jo becomes extremely concerned
with becoming a member of the Junior League of Houston, which she describes
several times as “exclusive” and dotes on the fact that membership is
“invitation only” by a committee of “high society ladies.” At the gala, Jo shames
Betty, her co-astronaut wife and friend, in front of Junior League of Houston
members for not being “fancy” enough in an attempt to impress the women and
receive an invitation to become a member herself. Later, when Betty asks where
the money for the fundraising gala is going, she is told that it’s impolite to
ask those types of questions. Unfortunately for Jo, after all that effort and
potential harm to her friendships with the other astronaut wives, Jo ultimately
does not receive an invitation to become a Junior League member.
As I was watching “Liftoff,” I became increasingly concerned
about the perception of the Junior League held by the 4.28 million viewers of
the show as a result of the show’s portrayal of the organization. And thus was
born, the TOP FIVE WAYS JLSA MEMBERS ARE NOT LIKE THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE ASTRONAUT WIVES:
Volunteer Training Event From L to R: Valayia Jones-Smith, Stephanie Reese, Melissa Paschall, & Vanessa Leal |
2. We raise money for a purpose – and are proud of it! In
the 2014-2015 JLSA year, our fundraising efforts raised $328,600 to give back
to the San Antonio community. While Jo may have been shushed at the Junior
League gala for asking where he money was going, we are proud to partner with
over 60 local nonprofit organizations and to be able to award cash grants to
deserving organizations, projects or initiatives. If you ask any member of our
committees for JLSA’s major fundraisers, Holiday Olé Market, Fête de Cuvée or
the Resolve for a Better SA 5K, they will be the first to tell you exactly why
we raise money and for whom in the community for the money is raised. We welcome the opportunity to give back to
our community – and enjoy any opportunity to talk about the great ways we give!
2013 SA Food Bank Shift |
2015 G.O.A.L. Retreat |
5. We support one another, inside and outside of JLSA. In
the episode, one of the astronaut wives made fun of her friend in an effort to
“impress” the women of the Junior League. My experience in JLSA, and the
experience of everyone I know who has been involved with the organization, has
been the exact opposite of the astronaut wives’ portrayal. Whether its JLSA
activities or involvement outside of the league, JLSA members are each other’s closest
friends, confidantes and encouragers. We enjoy happy hours together, invite one
another to celebrate achievements in our other organizations and attend one
another’s wedding and baby showers. Many
of our members have found
their lifelong friends through JLSA, friendships that continue into their sustainer years and beyond.
their lifelong friends through JLSA, friendships that continue into their sustainer years and beyond.
2015 Resolve for a Better SA 5K Julianne Reeves & Lauren Fleischer |
Great post - thanks for calling attention to what the Junior League is really all about!
ReplyDeleteGracie
President-Elect, JL Northwest Arkansas