Girl on a Motorcycle as Liberation?
While some view Girl on a Motorcycle to be a very liberating movie for women there are just as many, if not more, that see it in a different light. Although Rebecca’s actions can be very liberating and rebellious, Rebecca’s liberation is disguised behind the constant view of the male gaze and phallocentrism, both of which are commonly present throughout the entire film. Rebecca finds a struggle with herself early in the film whether or not to feel guilty about leaving Raymond for her lover, but as the film progresses she becomes more in tune with her rebellious side and decides that she feels more free and liberated through her actions. “Rebelling is the only thing that keeps you alive.� Although Rebecca’s thoughts and actions make the film seem liberating to women she is still constantly controlled by the men around her. This can be seen while she is filling up her gas tank or passing through customs on her way to see her lover. She is continually being looked at as an object that is meant to be taken control of, which, in turn, strays far away from liberation. Rebecca’s entire road trip, which is meant to express her rebelliousness and freedom as a woman, is completely controlled by the men that she comes in contact with. She is no more liberated than she was before she decided to leave Raymond for her lover, David.