Oddly enough, I can watch the movie Thelma & Louise over and over. I’ve never been able to pinpoint why I like this movie so much. To like it as I do almost makes me feel like I am a rebel. By admission, I am a pretty old-fashioned gal in many respects. My favorite shows are Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons. These shows depict women in mostly traditional, conventional roles and that sits well with me. This being stated, I celebrate when women are empowered, strengthened by “sisterhood”, and kick some male booty! Why? I’m not really sure. But I guess I recognize the feminist movement and all women have had to collectively endure to get us to this point in history. Do you enjoy seeing women rise above the hegemonic prevailing societal structures?
The movie Thelma & Louise highlights the strength of a female bond and friendship that fights against male oppression and chauvinism. This movie celebrates loyalty between two very different personalities, but the unifying factor is that they are female and have shared experiences. This brings them strength and resolve.
The two female characters in the movie, Thelma and Louise, are repeatedly disrespected and put down by men, threatened, and even abused. They rise above and fight back through their bond, standing firm against the male-dominated, patriarchal power system that surrounds them. Ultimately, the film showcases their achieved empowerment and their transformation from being passive victims.
In our readings, we learn that a feminist perspective takes into account three major concepts - patriarchy, masculine hegemony, and heteronormativity. I have a friend that I respect and like a lot. I asked her out of respect if I could have her permission to share about her journey and the photos included here - she gave her approval. My friend happens to be a lesbian. She got married a few years ago and started a family. My friend is highly educated as is her wife. She and her wife are good parents, exposing their children to many educational experiences. There is no shortage of love and care for their children. But the dominant ideology and hegemony presents challenges for them as parents and as a couple because they are not heterosexual and they are women. I think of them and so many others like them when I observe cultural artifacts and texts like Thelma & Louise that are opposing hegemonic, dominating ideologies.
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