Janus Head of Gender
My understanding of Feminism does not lie in being blind to gender and gender differences, rather feminism seeks to fully understand and embrace the fundamental differences between the sexes, while also accepting the full spectrum of capability of both sides and creating an equal playing field in an environment of love and acceptance.
Thelma and Louise embodies some of these ideas. Throughout the progression of the narrative, the women accumulate more and more seemingly "masculine" qualities (gun-toting, loud mouth-ish-ness, high sex drive, aggressive driving, etc.) while still maintaining their identification as women.
This can be observed in the intense, while somewhat humorous, scene involving the accosting of a police officer, in which Thelma and Louise combine masculine traits with feminine ones to illustrate the equality of men and women, without ignoring their obvious differences. By this point in the story, Thelma and Louise have already lost much of their overtly feminine 'uniforms'. They no longer don skirts and head wraps, and their perfectly applied make-up has long been smeared. In this way, they have rid themselves of the 'faux-feminism' that revolves solely around appearances, and begun to embrace a truer feminism that understands the equality of men and women. The duo has discovered the potency of their own agency, using 'masculine' means such as a gun, a fast car, and more utilitarian clothing. These 'tools' aid Thelma and Louise in their takeover of the situation with the police officer.
The officer approaches the car with an air of authority and masculinity. The camera showcases his militant and masculine uniform, and his gaze is hidden underneath dark glasses. He holds the power, and he knows it. As he approaches the car, Thelma and Louise gain their composure and also attempt to use their assumed role (meek and subservient) to gain leverage. The officer removes Louise from the vehicle in an attempt to remove her from, what he believes, is her main source of power. However, the two women have come to embrace both the masculine and feminine sides of their psyches, and utilize both the gain control. Because the officer let his assumptions guide his actions, he was unprepared for the women to use force to gain the upper hand. The women use both their voices and material tools to manipulate the situation. They are not overly aggressive or brutal, but instead simply speak with new found authority. This demonstrates the way this film is truly feminist. Thelma and Louise do not find it necessary to pervert their new power, instead they simply use it to achieve freedom. The women are courteous in their speech to the officer, yet speak with unwavering authority. The possibility of consequences is presented, however, the women do not unnecessarily use them.
This is how Thelma and Louise presents and effective feminist critique. While the women have come to understand the true equality of their gender, they do not use this newfound power to become outrageously aggressive or violent. Instead, force is used simply as a means of liberation or retaliation, and it is recognized as a new 'tool', not the dominating quality of the women's narrative. Their identity is a 'Janus Head' of male and female qualities, which they use to aide their journey.