The Symbolism & Politics of Geraldine Ferraro

As the first woman nominated for vice president from a major political party in 1984, Geraldine Ferraro endured a litany of questions about her appearance, her children, and even her blueberry muffin recipe. 

But as a new documentary directed and produced by Ferraro's daughter, Donna Zaccaro, demonstrates, Ferraro was and remains a symbol of leadership and possibility for women running for office across the country. 

The film "Geraldine Ferraro: Paving the Way," examines Ferraro's life, from her birth in Newburgh, New York to her work on Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.

In between, Ferraro created the first Special Victims Bureau in the country, handling sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse cases in the Queens County District Attorney's office.

Starting in 1978, she served as a congresswoman from Queens, and lent her support to a range of feminist causes. Along the way, Ferraro also encountered controversy—from her husband's finances to her remarks about then-candidate Obama's race in 2008.

Today on The Takeaway, Zaccaro examines the importance of her mother's candidacy, in 1984 and today, and the impact of her mother's career.

Check out a trailer for the film below. For information on screenings, click here.