The film Thelma & Louise became popular and sparked national debates on feminism thirty years ago. Due to the climate of the time, Thelma & Louise gained significant notice upon its release. Particularly, the Annita Hill/Clarence Thomas case has raised attention to the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace. Since the beginning of time, women’s issues have been scrutinized. In the film, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon portray Thelma and Louise. Feminists have seen the movie as retribution for Thelma and Louise’s defiance of masculine authority. Callie Khouri has portrayed degraded male characters as catcallers, sexual predators, police officers, and violent lovers. Thelma & Louise, one of the most financially successful films of all time, can be used to study the impact of feminist ideology. Thelma & Louise contains many feminist questions and messages.
According to Hobbs et al. (2012), “notions of personal fulfillment are central to the feminist ideal” (393). In Thelma & Louise, however, the female bond is shown to have a tremendous effect. By uniting, women create a feminist role model that may inspire and empower others. The unbreakable friendship between Thelma and Louise endures for the entirety of the film, even as they face death side by side. The fact that the film’s two female protagonists have similar physical characteristics emphasizes their close friendship (same hair color and accent). The film aims to introduce admirable characters—women who serve as positive examples and can motivate the future generation. According to an old proverb, women are their own worst adversaries. Such a connection between two women cannot endure. In response to sexism in the publishing industry, the feminist dream was composed. Together, women may learn to assert their desires and employ new makeovers (Hobbs et al. 394).
Standing up to oppression and fighting for justice. Thelma is portrayed as a victim of intimate relationship violence in the film. The husband is so possessive that he prohibits his wife, Thelma, from going out with her best friend, Louise. This prevented Thelma from simply packing up and leaving for the weekend with Louise. In the parking lot of the tavern where they stop, Harlan assaults Thelma sexually. In self-defense, Thelma fires a handgun at a defensive Harlan. When the two closest friends shoot him, they know the police will not accept their self-defense claim. Despite having nothing to do with the occurrence, Louise offered her support to her friend.
When challenging circumstances, women must band together, support each other, and advocate for our rights. This is reiterated by Hobbs et al. (2012) when they say that discipline and self-reliance are core principles of femininity (394). In the film, they may not have believed Louise’s explanation for why she shot her companion if, for instance, she had abandoned him after the incident. Women were also frequently viewed as second-class citizens. If they had informed the authorities of their version of events instead, Thelma might not have had to go through so much turmoil. In an attempt to assume responsibility, Louise plans a trip to Mexico. The police corner Louise and Thelma on the cliff’s edge towards the film’s conclusion. However, they were not about to give up and return to their miserable existence just because their enemies surrounded them. Louise and Thelma drive off a cliff hand-in-hand to demonstrate their mutual support (Thelma & Louise). It is easy to lose sight of these ladies committing suicide amidst their ardent promises never to return to their awful pasts. The core feminist message of the film is that women can only achieve complete independence by banding together, regardless of the cost. If they wish to exert control over their life, they should help one another.
Bechdel’s Test on Thelma and Louise
The Bechdel Test, named after a panel from Alison Bechdel’s 1985 comic “Dykes to Watch Out For,” is a simple litmus test for all works of fiction: at least two named female characters must converse about something other than a man. This is the first commercial for Ridley Scott’s 1991 film Thelma & Louise, starring Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon, and a turquoise 1966 Ford Thunderbird. What begins as a relaxing day of fishing quickly escalates into a high-stakes adventure culminates in a gunfight at the Grand Canyon’s rim. Thelma and Louise are two independent women. The Bechdel test was quickly passed because there were multiple named female characters and non-male-centric dialogue. It was mentioned in the conversation that films do not always portray women accurately, and it was noted that this test could help us identify such discrepancies. This survey is beneficial because it highlights sexism in the film industry and provides suggestions for combating it.
Hobbs et al. (2012) assert that “the media has not employed a Feminism perspective,” however, results indicate a need for more films with strong female protagonists, so we may use this test to identify them earlier in the production process (397). Beginning with gender roles, particularly those of women, the film excels. The film’s two starring females had a brief talk regarding the unfair treatment of women by men, but no particular male character is highlighted. This reflects the common cultural attitude that women should not speak up or challenge authority. The fact that women are frequently the only individuals who can relate to being treated differently by males serves as a reminder that women require one another. Despite the advances in recent years, considerable work is still to remedy the negative image of women in film, depicting the contrasting nature of Feminism (Hobbs et al. 391). The film avoids relevant issues, such as how women are treated in the workplace. This experience has taught me the importance of women supporting and empowering one another via open dialogue such as this. It is also a reminder that more work must be done to solve the poor treatment of female characters in the film industry.
Conclusion
The box office phenomenon Thelma & Louise provides an excellent vantage point to examine the suffrage movement from the female perspective. Thelma & Louise contains numerous perspectives on feminism, as well as numerous messages and questions. The primary concern Thelma & Louise critics raises is whether or not the film depicts strong female characters. Feminine role models’ unity assisted them in rejecting injustice and fighting for their rights. Thelma Louise and Belle de Fleming, for instance, use the prized instruments of their husbands to protest sexism. Female protagonists are more than mere objects for male readers. The male protagonists in Khouri’s works are portrayed as aggressive pigs who deserve the treatment they receive from their wives. This issue concerning women goes far beyond sexism. In terms of feminism, Hollywood has a long way to go after three decades. The journeys of Thelma and Louise represent a turning point in the history of the feminist movement.
Works Cited
Hobbs, Margaret, and Carla Rice. “Rethinking women’s studies: Curriculum, pedagogy, and the introductory course.” 2012.
Thelma &; Louise (film, 2000) [worldcat.org] (no date). Available at: https://www.worldcat.org/title/thelma-louise/oclc/43819601 (Accessed: December 5, 2022).
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