Liberal feminism is a sociopolitical framework that advocates gender equality through legal, institutional, and social reform, emphasizing the principles of individual rights, personal autonomy, and freedom of choice. This perspective challenges patriarchal structures that limit women’s opportunities and position them in subordinate social roles. This study examines Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise (1991) as a cinematic representation of liberal feminist values. The film illustrates the transformative journey of two women who move beyond restrictive domestic expectations in pursuit of liberation, providing a relevant medium to analyze women’s agency, resistance to gender-based oppression, and the pursuit of equality within a male-dominated society.
This study uses a type of qualitative method which focuses on the film script as primary data and supported by scholarly articles as secondary sources. The analysis is based on liberal feminist theory, drawing on the concepts of freedom, autonomy, and equality proposed by John Stuart Mill, and Harriet Taylor. The data collection process includes reading and examining the script, identifying relevant dialogues and scenes, classifying them according to the research focus, and selecting the most significant representations of liberal feminist principles.
The findings indicate that Thelma and Louise embody liberal feminist ideals through their rejection of male domination and their pursuit of self-determination. Their journey represents a broader struggle for equal rights, freedom, and independence. The study concludes that genuine liberation requires both the removal of external constraints and the recognition of individual self-worth.
Keyword: Liberal Feminism, Values, Struggle for Equality, Thelma and Louise