How Freedom And Security Of The Open Road Doesn T Apply To Women

“Thelma and Louise” (1991) is a dramatic, action-adventure film directed by Ridley Scott. The movie demonstrates how the freedom and security of the open road doesn’t apply to women, and that this open road myth narrowly applies to white men. Due to their gender, they aren’t expected or allowed to go on a road trip, they are victimized by crime, and sexual assault during the trip, and the male characters are sexist and objectifying throughout their journey. Although the myth of the open road suggests that there is an opportunity for everyone, much of the film contradicts this idea. Women are conceptualized as dependent, they must obey their husbands and are unable to leave without them or without their permission. Thelma was constrained to domestic work and taking care of her husband. She knew her husband wouldn’t let her go on the trip with Louise, but she did so anyway, which resulted in her husband insulting her and demanding that she return home. Although the road trip provided her an outlet to gain freedom, women weren’t socially allowed to go on trips due to having responsibilities at home, restricting their ability to use the road trip as a means of freedom.

While on their road trip, Thelma experienced sexual assault, and they both engaged in crime to defend themselves. When the women decided to stop at a bar, Thelma was almost raped, until Louise shot and killed the perpetrator in Thelma’s defense. They embarked on the road trip from there as an escape from the police, and from their responsibilities at home. However, because of their gender, they were vulnerable to abuse while traveling, decreasing their freedom. Their freedom of the road was also limited by being unable to go through certain towns, due to past traumatic experiences such as Louise being unable to go into Texas because of the abuse she endured