0 thoughts on “Women-In-Prison films”

  1. Isn’t is a bit difficult to see Death Proof as “feminist” since the women have to basically “become” male in order to defeat Kurt Russell. The lead’s adoption of a gun in order to solve her problems (i. e. phallus/phallic symbol)–and to shoot Russell is the turning point…and their abandonment of their most “femme” friend (in the cheerleader outfit) to the potential rapist/car salesman… And the way in which the Kiwi woman picks up a gigantic phallic jousting weapon in order to carry on warfare is troubling in this regard. Russell, in turn, turns into a whimpering stereotype of a woman. Of course, Tarantino may be suggesting that these stereotypes are false…but he relies on them pretty heavily in reversing them so fully. There isn’t so much “gender blurring” as straightforward gender reversal…even going so far as giving the “strong” women phalluses to confirm their strength… This isn’t second wave feminism at all, since it never suggests the strengths of women AS women…but rather women as men.

  2. I wouldn’t argue that Death Proof — or any of the Jack Hill movies I discuss — are unproblematically feminist. But I think you’re reading is a little overdetermined. Kurt Russell’s character is always a creepy loser; that he turns into a whiner when he runs into somebody tougher than him seems completely in character, and seems to me to be much more about how men are (posturing, preening lame-asses) than it is about women. In other words, I think Russell is a stereotype of a *guy*, not of a woman.

    I also don’t think that butch women necessarily have to read as men. (See Jusdith Halberstam). In this case, female friendship seems really important to how the movie sees women, and to how they manage to defeat Stuntman Mike. I think the point is, or can be, that the women are able to be tough and vicious and mean — and, yes, able to have the phallus — while still remaining women. I mean, they’re all still sexy, they still read Italian vogue…the stuntwoman even talks about how she’s both a woman and a gearhead, right? I really think it’s you who’s demanding an either/or male/female reading here, not the movie.

    And the denigration of femme is *totally* second wave. If the cheerleader suddenly gained power through her self-expressive cheers, that would be third wave.

    But I appreciate that you actually read that far!