Shirley temple … early feminist

You know, the argument can be made that the late Shirley Temple was an early feminist.

Yes, that same Shirley Temple, who passed away Feb. 10, who became such a cultural icon the world over, that her 56 bouncing blonde curls were recognized everywhere, her infectious sunny grin lightened up the darkest days of the Great Depression, who, after her child star days were over went on to decades of public service work — that same Shirley was feminist.

And if you’re convinced I’m out there in some alternative universe claiming Shirley Temple as feminist, even Gloria Steinem said she adored watching Shirley’s movies. Yes indeed, that same Gloria Steinem who was one of the founders of the feminist movement itself.

Shirley Temple began working at the age of three. Think about it; already in the work force and being paid for it, not too shabbily, either. At this tender age she starred in a series of short films called “Baby Burlesks,” which are hilarious when you consider tiny moppets paraded around in oversize diapers parroting and parodying the likes of the day’s sex symbols such as Mae West or Marlene Dietrich (who, by the way, were fiercely independent women who called their own shots in their respective movie careers).

Shirley took it in stride, of course; and after those movie parts, at the ripe age of six, she was loaned to Paramount and Warner Brothers Studios, with the expectation she would fulfill the usual child bit roles. But, she showed up the paternalistic studio heads who had no clue her charm and intelligence would far outshine and outlast their ideas of what Shirley was good for.

In 1934, she was cast in her first feature film, called “Bright Eyes,” and she introduced the entranced public to the now-classic song, “The Good Ship Lollipop.” While the song itself is so sugary and so childish, somehow Shirley made it fun. The song sold 500,000 sheet music copies right away. By 1935, because of the success of “Bright Eyes,” she won a special Juvenile Oscar and put her child hand- and foot-prints in the wet cement at Grumman’s Chinese Theater.

By the time the Depression wore down and the cannons of World War II were booming in the distance, Shirley grew older, too, and her usual sweetness didn’t sit as well, at least not with the studios at that time. She departed from 20th-Century Fox and realizing as she headed toward puberty she just wasn’t going to be the star people wanted to accept anymore, after a few relatively successful wartime films, it was likely time to do something else with her life.

At the age of 15 in 1943, Shirley met John Agar, a sergeant in the Army Air Corps. They married when Shirley was just 17; yet within four years, their marriage was over. Even as a young woman, Shirley would not suffer fools, and she refused to accept Agar’s womanizing and drunken bouts. They divorced in 1949, and Shirley gained custody of their daughter, Susan, who was born in 1948.

Shortly thereafter, Shirley met Charles Black, who was an intelligence officer in the Navy, received the Silver Star and was nine years her senior. He was conservative, the son of a rich family, and when the Korean War broke out, they moved to Washington, D.C.

Thus began Shirley’s second career. Although it was the ‘50s, and most women were shoved back into the home, she still took up options that would work out with her raising their three children. One of her most successful ventures was “Shirley Temple’s Storybook,” an anthology program of fairy tales that brought in plenty more wealth for Shirley and NBC.

In the early part of the 1960s, she knew appearing in the occasional television show would keep her in the public’s mind and memories. She also knew it wouldn’t be enough, and she itched to be more involved, to do something of lasting value. So she entered into politics.

While her bid to be the Republican candidate in California’s 11th congressional district against Pete McCloskey failed, mostly due to her support of the Vietnam War, (this was 1967), her venture into GOP politics caught the attention of no less than President Nixon, who appointed her to the 24th United Nations General Assembly.

After that, she was ambassador to Ghana, nominated by President Gerald Ford. She was the first female chief of protocol and in charge of President Carter’s inauguration. And she wrapped up her diplomatic career as U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, in 1992.

In 1972, when she underwent a mastectomy for removal of one of her cancerous breasts, she went public with the operation and was one of the first prominent women to speak up for and about breast cancer — even before Betty Ford did with her breast cancer.

In her autobiography, “Child Star,” Shirley quite pointedly remarked when she embarked on her diplomatic career, that although she was short on diplomatic experience, she said she was assisted by her years as one of the most famous child stars in the world. That recognition, she said, “Was very helpful when you want to explain your country’s position on various foreign affairs.”

Throughout her long, generous and productive life, Shirley Temple Black could very well be seen as both inspiration and the forerunner to such sterling women — and decidedly feminist at that — such as Caroline Kennedy (now serving as ambassador to Japan), the above-mentioned Gloria Steinem and even former Secretary of State, past U.S. senator, presidential candidate and First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Shirley went forward in her life with considerable intelligence, aplomb, charm, steadfastness and guts. Even today, she is still recognized as one of the most prominent, hard working and successful women the world has ever known.

And yes, indeed, for all that she was, Shirley, we will “surely” miss you.

Jodeane Albright is an award-winning columnist/blogger as well as the community editor for the Idaho State Journal.