Women’s Strength and Ability: American Feminist Ideals in Soul Surfer (2011) Movie

Salwa Ine Kautsar (Diponegoro University,)
Arido Laksono (Diponegoro University)

English Teaching Journal : A Journal of English Literature, Language, and Education
Vol. 13 No. 1 (2025)

This research examines the representation of women’s strength and American feminist ideals in the movie Soul Surfer (2011). The main focus of this research is Bethany Hamilton’s struggles in embodying feminist values. The theories that were used in this research are based on feminist theories form Tong and Butler. The method used in this research is literature review. The results of the research indicate that, out of 10 samples, Bethany is depicted as going against society’s expectations by return to the world of surfing after enduring a life-changing incident. Bethany embodies the values of women’s empowerment and gender equality. This finding provides insights into how Soul Surfer promotes feminist values by celebrating women’s strength, agency, and resilient spirit in the face of obstacles, thereby encouraging a more profound awareness of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the modern society