Gender Stereotyping Thelma and Louise, a contemporary “road film” directed by Ridley Scott, can be viewed as a literary structure use to highlight the struggle of female characters by signifying different ways a relationship of uniformity amongst two distinctive women could influence the one to endeavor some personality traits of the other. Furthermore, Thelma and Louise display much emphasis upon the relationship female characters establishes in admired films while fluctuating the overall meaning of gender individuality. By portraying women as housewives and waitresses, this controversial film, reinforce gender stereotyping to emphasize the struggles women had in the nineties to escape the restrains enforced in their normal lives in order to find freedom. This film reinforces gender stereotyping by characterizing Thelma and Louise as two women who are viewed, by men, as being defenseless and submissive; however, Thelma and Louise later became resilient and unyielding. In an article written by Gilpatric stated that “female characters were more likely to be romantic, domestic, sensitive, and manipulative, and male characters were more likely to be competitive, athletic, aggressive, and risk-taking.”(p. 324). However, this film contradicts this statement having that it shows Thelma and Louise in masculine roles while portraying male characteristics in scenes such as Thelma robbing the convenience store: Thelma: Good morning everybody, this is a robbery. Now if nobody loses their head, nobody will lose their head. Simon says everybody lay down on the floor, right away, right away, except you sir. You'll have a story to tell your friends, that or a tag on your toe, it's your decision. Now you take this bag and empty the cash register into it.
Store clerk: Yes ma'am. Thelma: Let's see who wins a prize for keeping their cool. Now you sir, lay back down, thank