Much has changed in society since Tootsie, starring Academy-Award winner Dustin Hoffman, was released in 1982. That was nearly 40 years ago. 

The world's population is up by roughly one quarter--from 5.66 billion to 7.24 billion. We have more young people than ever in the age group of 10 to 24, which gives me hope that those coming up will do better than their elder counterparts who, in my opinion, often get it wrong when they are part of the political spectrum. The demographic of older people over 60 has gone up. Though poverty has decreased, the disparity between the rich and the poor has widened. Technology and medical advances are staggering. Yet how much has human nature changed? Not enough.

The internet highlighted the fact that basic human nature remains the same. It's disputable "the day the infant internet uttered its first words" but by many accounts, the sign-on was in 1969-the year of Woodstock. Social and economic changes came in leaps and bounds and cycles. But intolerance toward religious groups, ethnic prejudice, and sexual orientation remain. 

Movie watching changed too. Following the onset of the pandemic, many viewers choose to stream in the comfort of their own homes. And of course, special effects have made films more exciting to watch. Visual components and sound advances are remarkable

A recent 25th-anniversary edition of Tootsie came out that inspired me to watch the film again. It seemed as campy and enjoyable as the first time I watched it at the movies many years ago. But it occurred to me that although the movie seemed a bit outdated, there is still relevance in terms of how some people respond to women or to those they perceive as different. 

The American Film Institute declared that Tootsie is the second funniest film of all time so it's certainly worth a look. Ironically, the Institute selected the 1959 classic 'Some Like it Hot' with Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis starring. Both films feature men dressing up as women. The roles can be categorized as transgender: the talent and range of actors like Hoffman and Curtis serve to make their transitions entertaining. However, for those struggling with identity, there is nothing funny when they wear clothes of the opposite gender. 

Tootsie has a phenomenal cast that includes Jessica Lange (grabbing an Oscar for the role), Terri Garr, Bill Murray, Dabney Coleman, and Geena Davis in her film debut. Sydney Pollack, the director, and co-producer, played Hoffman's agent.

The premise is that a floundering actor who is relegated to waiting tables lands a part in a soap opera by pretending to be a woman. In outlandish wigs and dresses, "Dorothy Michaels" reaches a level of success that her male counterpart never hit. She becomes a feminist role model for female viewers. 

Why is this still relevant? Because it was a film that highlighted that a woman could be more successful and inspirational than her male counterpart-campy or not.