I WAS A TEENAGE FEMINIST is a personal journey into a powerful, political movement that once sparked passionate response and social revolution, but now routinely evokes discomfort, indifference and even disdain.

Armed with a video camera, an inquiring mind, and an irreverent sense of humor, filmmaker Therese Shechter crisscrosses both the continent and her own psyche in the hope of reconnecting to the power and sense of purpose that feminism gave her as a teenager in the 1970s.

As Therese searches for her own voice and place in the feminist movement and tries to come to terms with her identity as a woman today, she asks fundamental questions: How did feminism lose its voice? Does it even exist today and for that matter, what is feminism?

Is it Elaine, the apolitical but sexually liberated young woman? Is it Carollina, the self-described radical feminist and stay-at-home mom? Is it Nancy, the grrl rock promoter, marching in the Gay Pride Parade? Is it the editors of Bust Magazine, who can’t even use the F-Word with their own advertisers? Is it Vinnie, who is taking our periods out of the closet with his thriving tampon case business? Or is it Therese’s mother and role model, who lived the goals of feminism but now rejects the label and even any need for the movement?

Is feminism dead, hibernating, or trapped below the radar? Have the goals of the '70s been accomplished or have feminism’s opponents appropriated and denigrated the movement beyond all recognition? If so, how did this happen? Do you have to be political to be a feminist? And do you even have to be female?

In this delightfully creative and engaging film, Therese acts as a surrogate for all women asking questions about women’s roles and identities in our society and culture. As Therese finds her own voice and a powerful way to speak out and take action, the film inspires others who believe in their own power and shows them how to reconnect to it.

I WAS A TEENAGE FEMINIST features insightful commentary from Gloria Steinem and Ms. founding editor Letty Cottin Pogrebin, as well noted Third Wave activists Jennifer Baumgartner (co-author of "Manifesta") and Jennifer Pozner (of Women In Media & News.)

With Therese’s witty, honest voice, a vibrant cast of thought-provoking characters, and a sassy soundtrack featuring Ani DiFranco, Gina Young, MoxieStarpark, the classic Free to Be…You and Me and the legendary Helen Reddy, I WAS A TEENAGE FEMINIST redefines the F-word for a new generation.

Some of the people you will meet:

Nancy, who manages a grrrl rock band and organized a fledgling women's rock music festival.
Elaine, a 20-year-old Cuban-American who left behind a traditional, Catholic life in Miami to study opera and boys in New York City.
Carollina, who describes herself as a 'rabid feminist,' as well as a stay-at-home mom.
Debbie Stoller and Laurie Henzel, Editors of Bust, struggling to keep afloat a magazine whose motto is 'Fun Fierce and Feminist', and who disdain politics in favor of cultural and consumer revolution.
Feminist icon Gloria Steinem; and Letty Cottin Pogrebin of "Free to Be...You and Me."
Vinnie, of Vinnie's Tampon Cases, who's trying to educate men, and help women, with the monthly flow, and answers the question: 'Can men be feminists?'
Myriam, the filmmaker's mother and greatest role model, a pianist, linguist, writer and product of 1950s Communist Romania, where everyone worked for the good of the party, but women still had to clean up afterwards.