Essay:
‘Analyse the representation of women in Thelma and Louise’
In this essay I will analyse the representation of women in
the film ‘Thelma and Louise’, during which women are represented in different
ways.
I will first look at the way that the Thelma and Louise are
represented at the start of the film. Firstly Thelma is presented as
stereotypical housewife. We see her in the kitchen (stereotypically the woman’s
place) preparing the washing and making her husband a cup of coffee. Also she
is seen wearing a dress which is something we would expect girls to
wear.
However we also start to see her challenging these female conventions. For
example when we see her packing for the holiday she just chucks everything in
there not neat and tidy. Also we see her packing a gun, something you wouldn’t
see a woman stereotypically with. On the other hand Louise is the opposite of
Thelma. Louise is a ‘tom boy’ and doesn’t wear ‘girly clothes’, we see her
mainly in a shirt and trousers; typically something men wear. She also smokes
which back when this film is set you wouldn’t expect to see them smoking.
However she also follows some stereotypes. We see her working at a diner as a
waitress, something you would expect to see a woman doing, and she packs neat and
tidy something that women are stereotypically better at than
men.
will next look at them when they are at the truck stop.
Thelma is shown as the woman who is weak and vulnerable (a way in which some
people view women). She is seen about to be raped reinforcing the view that
women are vulnerable and weak. This also helps to build the view of Thelma as a
‘girly girl’. Following Laura Muleys theory of Male gaze, the fact that the man
went for Thelma rather than Louise suggests that he was looking at her body,
following Muleys theory of male gaze.
Louise
on the other hand, is shown as the strong female, where she defends Thelma and
shoots the would be rapist. This goes against the female stereotype that they
are weak and vulnerable, challenging conventions once
again.
Also to reinforce her ‘tom boy’ personality when she is sorting herself out in
the bathroom with the other women she leaves suggesting that she doesn’t enjoy
it much, whereas Thelma is seen constantly applying
makeup,
following that female stereotype that women need to look pretty. Also she
doesn’t follow Muleys theory as she isn’t paid much attention to.
The next point I will look at is the point in which Thelma
and Louise switch roles. This particular point is right after J.D. and Thelma
have sex. This shows the stereotype that women want sex; as Thelma is married
and sleeping with J.D.. After we see Thelma as a totally different person. She
has lost her dress and has donned tight trousers and a denim jacket, ‘tom boy’
clothes.
She also has a more confident attitude and feels somewhat elevated by her
experience reinforcing the stereotype that women live for sex. We later see the
change in Louise when they learn that J.D. has stolen their only supply of
money. When they learn of J.D.’s treachery Louise breaks down in tears at the
loss of her life’s savings. Crying is generally a stereotype reserved for women
and also something we would not expect to see Louise
doing.
By this act it reverses the roles of Thelma and Louise as Thelma keeps a cool
head and tells Louise what to do shifting the power from Louise to Thelma, a
crucial point in the film in relation to their relationship. You could also
apply Muleys’ theory as a man would at this point turn their advances possibly
to Louise as she is the ‘weaker
prey’.
As the film goes on we see that Thelma and Louise have
become equals. We see that Thelma is also driving the car now whereas earlier
on in the play it is only Louise seen driving the car. Driving the car is
generally seen as something that ‘men should do’ so here we see that they are
both now challenging
stereotypes.
We see this big change again in Thelma when she robs a store and holds the
police man at gunpoint. This is generally seen as a male stereotype, henceforth
Thelma is challenging the stereotypes set against her and suggesting that she
has power; to be able to do that. Also we see that Louise has shifted from her
brief time spent as a ‘woman’. Also we see Louise selling her jewellery
suggesting she is challenging almost all stereotypes of women, as she isn’t
wearing ‘girly things’. Now they are both also not following Muleys’ theory as
they are both people that men may not pay attention as they aren’t a ‘Girly
Girl’ and possibly won’t attract the gaze of males as
much.
Also by this point they challenge stereotypes further by:
firing guns, swearing and drinking whisky. These are generally perceived as
something men do, showing how they are further challenging conventions set
against them.
Overall by the end of the play we see that the
representation of women is that they are strong individuals that can challenge
stereotypes and carry out men tasks and hobbies.
A number of
focused, detailed points Jordan. You have analysed each character well and made
some clear comparisons
Comment on 1,2
and 3.
Comment 1: Thelma presents herself as a bored housewife. She
has messy hair in the morning and isn’t wearing any make-up. When we see her in
the car with Louise she has done her hair and is now wearing make-up,
suggesting she has no need of it in the house, as she doesn’t leave there.
Comment 2: We see both the women wearing white tops. This
suggests that they are both still ‘innocent’. This would follow Muley’s theory
as men would see this as a sign of ‘easy prey’ and would make more advancements
to them.
Comment 3: While in the bar Thelma acted like a
stereotypical teenage girl by flirting with every man in the bar this would
have attracted many men’s attention. This would fulfil Muley’s theory as men
would be averting their gaze to look at her.
