Psycho Cliff Jumpers?

When the chapter started off with Thelma and Louise I got excited, I can't help it. I like the thought of women taking a stand, even if it's a violent psychotic one. I mean come on, how many violent movies are there out there with groups of guys shooting people up? Or two guy friends who congratulate each other on the size of their weapons. Okay, so they men in these movies don't necessarily dramatically drive off of a cliff at the end, but maybe that's the point. Men are treated as though they are allowed to be violent and aggressive, while women have to resist the urge to act out. And if women do act agressively, they will be chased down until they eventually have to resort in admitting defeat (driving off a cliff).

I think Lakoff used Thelma and Louise as an example to illustrate aspects of the Hill/Thomas hearings effectively. She says that the movie "brought up the topic of sexual harassment into sharp focus as a subject of impassioned arguments between and within the sexes, and presented the possibility of retribution." The hearing also brought up the topic of sexual harassment, though it was often overlooked because of the race issue. Anita Hill was seen as a black woman who should have been sticking by her culture, instead of outing a man who was seen as respectable. She wanted some form of retribution, so it became public. Imagine if Anita Hill would have taken the same measures as Thelma and Louise against Thomas. Would she have gotten her point across more effectively? She might have been seen as a victim, but she for the most part she would have been viewed as a psycho. Of course, during the hearings her mental capacity was questioned anyway, so even without a violent approach she is still psycho for standing up for herself.

When Simpson makes an indirect threat to Anita Hill, he says, "real harassment, different than the sexual kind." This is a very dangerous statement, because like the text says it makes it seem like sexual harassment is less valid than other forms of harassment. And who is going to speak out about something that society doesn't view as a "real" crime? That statement seems to make a second threat, to women who want to prosecute men of higher status for sexual harassment in the future. Simpson seems to be saying, "Don't do it. Because you are the weaker gender, and no one will take you seriously."