working 9 to 5, i mean...thelma and louise.
What was most striking to me regarding the feminist viewpoint in Thelma and Louise was the fact that they were working class women. I'm always fascinated by anything counter-culture that comes from a middle-class/white frame of reference. The fact that both women have employment in traditional female enterprises (waitress and housewife) and that they break out of them by becoming outlaws are exciting if nothing else. I think that if these had been two upper-middle class women the movie would have become more of a comment on class than anything, and exoctisized the lower class too much. Writing about this in academic terms makes me a little itchy though, because I think that it isn't as acessible as it should be to the people I'm writing about. Luckily I come from a similar socio-economic background though, so I can write about my definition of feminism in that vernacular. More on that later. I think the best example of a blatant metaphor for the women's change is when you juxtapose the images of Louise putting on lipstick very carefully when they first leave, and later throwing it in the desert. Another similar example is when she gives her jewelry (femininity/money) and watch (society/rules) to the old gentleman.
My views on what feminism is:
Hoes up, but not G's out.
That is, to me feminism is about being pro-women, but not anti anything else. Do what you do, and I'll do me.
And being pro-choice.
If you ain't pro-choice, you ain't a feminist.
No second class citizenship.
etcetcetc.