Feminism Can Include Ass-kicking
Is anyone here thinking for themselves? Just because the question is "Does Thelma and Louise betray feminism?", that doesn't require that you answer yes.
1. The plot was entirely driven by women making their own decisions, advocating for themselves, and doing things that made them happy. In my version of feminism, it's a betrayal to judge other women (real or fictional) for decisions that you don't like. The incessant judgment by many of the other writers on this blog over Thelma's sexual decisions is anti-feminist and participates in our culture of slut-shaming. What happened to celebrating sexual power?
2. If this were billed as an action movie, or if we weren't watching it in this course, no one would think twice about the violence. Personally, I think it's an exaggerated version of what women wish they did when they get cat called on the street. I find it hard to believe that so few women in the class are willing to admit that they empathize with the anger, hurt, sadness, and lowness that you can feel when someone reduces you to your body parts.
3. This film isn't supposed to be and shouldn't be expected to be gender-equal. When films centered around men are gender-equal, then films from women should be, but until then, women film makers have the right to fight fire with fire. Putting down the power that these women exercise in the film on the basis that it isn't gender-equal is a double standard.
As the saying goes, I'll be post-feminism when we're post patriarchy. But until then, I reserve the right to want to punch someone out who tries to objectify and degrade me.