Whatever it takes, these women will do for each other and in the process they positively affect themselves, their families and communities. .
Egoism seems to be the mode of ethics for Idgie in the beginning of the movie. After her brother's death, Idgie spends her adolescent years living in the woods, cutting herself off from her family, obtaining her socialization by drinking and gambling with the town's men. Her lifestyle, as it works for her is condemned by the citizens of Whistle Stop. Idgie is an outspoken and puzzling person who is only puzzling because she chooses to live her life to best serve her own needs. She seems to get great pleasure out of taunting the town preacher, wearing men's clothing, and befriending the black community in an era and region where there are definite racial boundaries. A line from the film sums up the majority of the white communities attitude toward black communities in the era, Sispey: "Oh it don't make no kind of sense. Big ol' ox like Grady won't sit next to a colored child. But he eats eggs- shoot right outta chicken's ass!- (Anvent 1991) Idgie also has her own system for giving to others, which adds her puzzling nature. One night she talks Ruth into jumping a train car full of food, as the train passes by a camp area full of indigent families Idgie throws the food to them. This stealing from the rich to give to the poor is a definite utilitarian act because it is obtaining a good objective, feeding the poor, by means that would be illegal, stealing. Idgie has no concern for legal implications of her actions; her only concern is to bring food to starving people. .
Ruth, a proper Southern woman of the 1930's, exemplifies altruism during the movie but resorts to utilitarianism to ensure the safety of her child and friends. Ruth has always taken care of others, teaches in the church, and marries the man her family thought she should marry who turns out to be abusive.
