Running Away from Feminism
When I think of what the word feminism means my thoughts wonder to the women's liberation movement which began in the 60's and gained momentum with conscious raising. The movement stood for equality of all sexes and the right for women to choose how they want to live their lives and be able to seek self-fulfillment through establish relationships with other women instead of competing. I see feminism in the same way; equality for all to have choice, to be in control of their own life story. Many feminist praise the film Thelma and Louise for breaking gender roles and establishing a women's perspective. However, in light of the meaning behind feminism, I see the film more as Thelma and Louise running away from feminism and swapping gender roles with men only to never coming back.
In the beginning of the film, both Thelma and Louise are living lives they didn't want to chose, lives that provide them with fulfillment and a sense of purpose. When they attempt to do something by themselves by taking a weekend trip, they run into a man that is intent on causing harm. Louise responds with violence, as stereotyped in the male gender role, by shooting him. From that point on Thelma and Louise reject feminism and stay in the role of a male by fleeing the scene and becoming fugitives instead of reporting the rape to the police. I think the last scene in the film best displays their complete betrayal of feminism. It is the two of them up against the man (the fleet of police officers) and instead of fighting for feminism and the equality for women and take the easy way out by going off the cliff. If Thelma and Louise would have faced the police officers they may have been but in jail, but they could have taken the opportunity to be advocates for other women and create awareness of violence towards women. Some may see Thelma and Louise driving off the cliff as choosing self-fulfillment, but I see it more as choosing to let other women continue to be victims of men just as they had.