Exploring feminist narratives: 3 Hollywood movies withstanding patriarchy

Here are three feminist movies that powerfully address themes of gender equality, female empowerment, and challenging societal norms. Feminist movies encourage the ideas of feminism and voice out the need of feminist ideas in a Patrichial society. Feminist films motivates us to be empowered and promotes feminist ideas.

Three feminist movies challenging patriarchal norms of the society:

1. “Thelma & Louise” (1991)

Source- Entertainment Weekly

Director: Ridley Scott

– Synopsis: This iconic film follows two friends, Thelma and Louise, who embark on a road trip that turns into a quest for freedom from their oppressive lives. Their journey becomes a statement against gender-based violence and societal constraints, showcasing their transformation from victims to empowered women.

The film follows the story of Thelma Dickinson (Geena Davis) and Louise Sawyer (Susan Sarandon), two best friends who decide to take a weekend road trip to escape their mundane lives. Thelma is a housewife trapped in an oppressive marriage, while Louise is a waitress seeking some adventure and relief from her routine.

Their trip takes a dark turn when they stop at a bar and Thelma is nearly raped by a man named Harlan. Louise intervenes and shoots Harlan in a moment of rage and self-defense. Fearing that the authorities won’t believe their side of the story, they decide to flee to Mexico.

As they drive across the American Southwest, the women experience a newfound sense of freedom and empowerment, challenging societal norms and expectations. Along the way, they encounter a charming drifter named J.D. (Brad Pitt), who steals their money, further complicating their situation.

Detective Hal Slocumb (Harvey Keitel) begins to track them, sympathetic to their plight but determined to bring them in. Thelma and Louise’s bond grows stronger as they evade law enforcement, and they become symbols of defiance against a patriarchal system.

The film culminates in a dramatic and iconic ending at the Grand Canyon, where, facing inevitable capture, Thelma and Louise choose to drive off the cliff together, sealing their fate on their own terms.

“Thelma & Louise” is celebrated for its portrayal of female friendship, autonomy, and resistance against gender oppression, making it a landmark film in feminist cinema.

2. “Hidden Figures” (2016)

source- Amazon. In

– Director: Theodore Melfi

– Synopsis: This inspiring film tells the true story of three African-American women mathematicians—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—who made significant contributions to NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. The movie highlights their professional achievements and the racial and gender discrimination they faced and overcame.

“Hidden Figures” is an inspiring true story about three African-American women mathematicians—Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe)—who worked at NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.

Katherine Johnson is a brilliant mathematician whose skills with analytical geometry earn her a place in the Space Task Group, where she calculates critical flight trajectories for Project Mercury, including John Glenn’s historic orbit around the Earth. Despite facing racism and sexism, Katherine’s exceptional work becomes indispensable to the mission’s success.

Dorothy Vaughan is a skilled mathematician who supervises a group of African-American women “computers” in the segregated West Area Computers division. She fights for recognition and an official supervisor title, ultimately teaching herself and her team programming to stay relevant as NASA transitions to electronic computers.

Mary Jackson is an aspiring engineer who faces significant barriers due to her race and gender. With determination and the support of her colleagues, she petitions the court to attend night classes at an all-white high school to earn her engineering degree, becoming NASA’s first African-American female engineer.

The film highlights their professional achievements and the personal and systemic obstacles they overcome, emphasizing the vital contributions of these women to the space race. Through their intelligence, perseverance, and courage, they challenge societal norms and pave the way for future generations of women and minorities in STEM fields.

“Hidden Figures” celebrates the unheralded contributions of these remarkable women and underscores the importance of diversity and inclusion in achieving groundbreaking successes.

3. “The Color Purple” (1985)

source- IMDb

– Director:Steven Spielberg

– Synopsis:Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this film chronicles the life of Celie, an African-American woman in the early 20th century American South, who faces tremendous hardships, including abuse and racism. Through resilience and the support of other women, Celie transforms her life, discovering her own strength and self-worth.

“The Color Purple,” based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is a poignant drama set in the early 20th century American South. It chronicles the life of Celie Harris (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman who endures severe abuse and oppression from childhood into adulthood.

The story begins with Celie as a young girl, who is repeatedly raped by her father, resulting in two pregnancies. Her children are taken away from her, and she is forced into a loveless marriage to a brutal farmer named Albert (Danny Glover), whom she calls “Mister.” Throughout her life, Celie suffers physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of the men around her, leaving her with little sense of self-worth.

Despite her hardships, Celie forms meaningful relationships with other women who help her find her strength and identity. She befriends and is deeply influenced by Sofia (Oprah Winfrey), a strong-willed woman who refuses to submit to her husband’s demands, and Shug Avery (Margaret Avery), a glamorous and independent singer who becomes Celie’s lover and mentor. Through these relationships, Celie learns about love, self-respect, and the power of female solidarity.

The narrative also follows the lives of Celie’s sister Nettie, who becomes a missionary in Africa, and Sofia, who faces her own struggles against racial and gender oppression.

As the years pass, Celie gains the courage to stand up to Mister, eventually leaving him and starting a new life. She discovers letters from Nettie that Mister had hidden from her, revealing that her children are alive and living with Nettie in Africa. The film concludes on a hopeful note, with Celie reunited with her sister and children, having finally found her own voice and place in the world.

“The Color Purple” is a profound exploration of resilience, personal growth, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. It highlights the intersectionality of race and gender, depicting the ways in which the characters overcome adversity through love, solidarity, and self-discovery.

These films not only portray strong, complex female characters but also address critical issues related to feminism, such as gender equality, social justice, and personal empowerment.