As defined in the reading, “gaze is concerned with how gendered, eroticized, and controlled bodies become visible within media and other texts, and how individuals look at, identify with, and are constructed by visual representations.” Gaze is often seen through what we know as the “male gaze” which is portrayed in most forms of media. In most movies, especially those that are expected to be viewed be a mostly male audience, the leading female role tends to be one that is white, skinny, straight, and meets the typical beauty standards. These women will also be dressed in revealing outfits that show lots of their skin and body. This is extremely demoralizing for women and portrays them as objects instead of people who are capable of all that a man is. I feel that the portrayal of women through the male gaze was more of an issue when I was younger, as I have recently been seeing this issue improve. There are several different ways this has improved, one of them being that there are far more women of color in movies and TV shows who serve a greater purpose in the plot than to just look pretty. I have also noticed when online shopping that there are far more body types represented. Plus sized models are far more frequent than they were in the past which allows for women of all shapes and sizes to be represented.
4 thoughts on “Gaze- Caroline Rowe”
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I agree with the idea that when films are directed towards the male gaze, the females casted tend to meet society’s beauty standards. This drastically limits the amount of representation happening in Hollywood. Growing up and seeing all of the female characters looking this way can have a major effect on self-esteem and continues the cycle that girls feel as though they have to fit in with the beauty standards being represented. I also agree that we have been moving in a direction towards progress, but there is still a lot more work that needs to be done.
I have also noticed that there is more representation with models when online shopping. For example, Aerie launched its #AerieREAL campagne six years ago, making the commitment to stop posting photo shopped images of models. On the Aerie website now, there are models with different skin tones, hair textures, and body types. The models’ stretch marks, body hair, and scars are kept in, instead of edited out. Straying from the unrealistic beauty standard of the thin, tall, white model, this campaign increases diversity and inclusivity. I think this campaign is a positive step away from the male gaze and towards women empowerment and other brands should follow Aerie’s example.
I liked how you mentioned so many different situations where the male gaze is present. Since it is so evident in movies, it’s easy to forget that this also carries to modeling and the fashion and beauty industries. I think the body positivity movement often doesn’t mention how greatly body negativity stems from the male gaze in the first place. You mentioned TV shows as well, which I think is a situation where the male gaze is seen very often especially for comedic effect, utilizing stereotypes like the “dumb blonde” or reducing female characters of color to singular traits like intelligence or prudishness.
I agree that companies and media outlets are doing less to appeal to the male gaze in recent years. I also remember that years ago, the only models and actresses you saw on a big stage were conventionally attractive in a western sense. Seeing female models and public figures be successful while also having different body types is encouraging for young women, who will have less pressure to fit a mold that society has forced upon them.