Feminist Critique?
Thelma and Louise was an effective feminist critique as shown through many scenes in the movie. A feminist is someone who believes that women and men should be treated equally and thinks about every situation as its significance and how women fit into it. Feminists speak out if something is unfair because women are able to do way more than they have been in the past so they aren't like the stereotype of the homemaker, to me. Their main incentive is to find justice for women.
In the movie, Thelma was seen as the woman that wanted to be free because her husband controlled her. Louise was the one who came in and made Thelma realize that the way they were living wasn't alright. This was when they were driving in the car and Thelma said that her husband doesn't let her go anywhere, and that just expected her to stay in the house and do housework. These two women were represented as strong, opinionated and determined to be free and that was their motivation throughout the movie. Their attitudes towards the end of the movie were that they didn't need anyone but each other and their actions became justified when Thelma was taken advantage of.
Another example that showed that Thelma and Louise was seen as an example of feminism based on my own definition was that Louise drove a Thunderbird. The thunderbird is seen as a manly, flashy, and rebelliious car which foreshadows that trouble is bound to happen. It sends the message that women are equal to men therefore they can drive whatever car they want to. Louise had that type of car for a reason whether it was to make a point or that she just liked that it was flashy and a convertible. The thunderbird has been shown in many movies in specific, Grease, in which the most popular, smooth guys in school were called the Thunderbirds.
With the evidence that I have presented, it is proven that Thelma and Louise is an effective feminist critique. Louise fits more of the characteristics if a feminist and since her views are obvious, she influences Thelma to feel the same. Louise starts to hate the life that she used to live especially she didn't have any control over because what she did, where she went or anything else. Together they feel a sense of security that they couldn't feel with any man. They went on their journey with the incentive of justice for women and that ended with them driving over the edge of a cliff together.