"Girl on a Motorcycle," Liberating?? Huh?!
The movie Girl on a Motorcycle is sometimes deemed as a "liberating" film for women. After watching this movie, I cannot see how this conclusion was created! If anything, this movie signifies a woman's dependence on man. Though there are indeed moments of seeming liberation, it turns out those instances are fueled by male influence. For example, Rebecca, the main character, rides her motorcycle, a trait that is looked at as a rebellious one for women. As the viewer looks deeper into the woman's love for riding, it turns out it is rooted from her lover's authority over her. He bought her the motorcycle so they could continue their love affair. It is the man controlling the relationship, not the woman. She is obsessed with him in a way. In fact, the film makes it look as though she cannot function without him, or any man for that matter.
Rebecca is on a vacation with her fiance and while she is in bed, she is raped by her future lover. Rape itself is one of the most unliberating and abominable acts one can do to a woman, yet Rebecca's character apparently loves it and in turn, starts to have an affair with her rapist. Throughout the film, Rebecca is seen in the male gaze quite frequently. The viewer actually sees her seeing the males in the film look at her through the male gaze. She seemingly thrives off it. Whether it be a man pumping her gas, or the male border patrol officers using it, she appears to love the demeaning attention.
It is as though she craves the male gaze and is not satisfied without it. This film does not represent a society ready to fully liberate women, in fact, it is the direct opposite. This film makes it acceptible, seemingly in the eyes of women, to be confined to men forever.