Thelma and Louise free essay sample

Simonton March 21,2013 Adams English 101 Stereotypes at their Finest Gender and power relations continue to be at odds with each other. Critically review how we still live in a male dominated society where patriarchal power still holds the key to the doors and windows of freedom, self-identity and expression. Strongly engage with this statement drawing on key actors in the film, also religion, ethnicity and gender relations. The most accepted definition of patriarchy is the â€Å"social structure of society based on the father having primary responsibilities for the welfare of and authority over their families. Patriarchy does not mean that all men are powerful and women are powerless, but it does indicate that mostly men hold the most powerful roles. In the movie Thelma and Louise the men serve in the highest levels in all areas of society therefore, this is crucial when examining Thelma’s and Louise right of equality and freedom; next to all them men they come in contact wi th. We will write a custom essay sample on Thelma and Louise or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Thelma is a passive housewife who caters to her husbands every need, and she sees nothing wrong with it. This is an example of what was expected of married women. Still is in some cases currently in society. Take a look at the Louise who is the exact opposite of Thelma. She is a single waitress who appears strong, organized, and stern, with a very confident aura about her. This example paints a clearer picture of what you see women’s roles evolving into. Thelma and Louise’s snowball of madness started when Thelma gets drunk and Harlan attempts to rape her in the parking lot; and Louise finds them and threatens to shoot Harlan with a gun that Thelma brought with her. Harlan stops, but as the women walk away, he yells profanity and insults them. Louise looses her temper and fires, killing him. Thelma wants to go to the police, but Louise basically says, â€Å"that because Thelma was drunk and had been dancing with Harlan, no one will believe her tried to rape her†. Afraid that she will be prosecuted, the women flee the scene. The women in this moment are caught in a huge dilemma that looks as if it cannot be fixed, because in this scenario the male has the upper hand. This is the gender and power at its finest; it certainly constitutes an attack on conventional patterns of sexist male behavior toward females. Males usually are known to be aggressive, forceful, dominant, self-sufficient an assertive. Women on the other hand are affectionate, sensitive, sympathetic and gentle. In Thelma and Louise’s case the roles of what is considered masculine and feminine is reversed. A prime example is when the ladies come in contact with the state trooper. At first he appears with a typical authoritative outfit, a pair of sunglasses, chewing gum, and a casual yet aggressive attitude. However, as soon as Thelma pulls out her gun and points it at him, he collapses and starts begging like a little girl. Thelma takes the situation into her own hands and doesn’t hesitate to be the one in power even though what is expected is for the male police officer to dominate the scene. What is so unique about this reversal is how much of a jump from being quiet and submissive Thelma was to an extremely confident powerful women. The major feature of the social status of men and women is the dominance of men in every aspect of modern life. This culturally drilled into everyone’s head from young age. Male dominance can be explained in many ways and from a variety of perspective. A strictly evolutionary approach could show that the gender roles have evolved over a large time in a way that naturally selected men and women into the roles and social statuses they hold today. From a Christians stand point, one is led to believe that God created the world this way and everything is as it should be. No matter what view it is everyone’s perspective comes from how they were raised and choose to raise the next generation