The whole concept of the "male gaze" fascinates me. It's right in front of our faces, all of the time, but the vast majority of people cannot really see it until it's been pointed out to them - and even when it is pointed out, it takes some time to gradually process how this impacts not just society, but one's self-image. I started looking into this about 18 months ago, and it still puzzles me sometimes. I'm constantly learning how to detect and unlearn the harmful beliefs I held (and some I still do not realize I hold), and understand how one big monster of a concept could cause so much damage. It really is mind-boggling, and most of all, processing it is a personal experience - but in the end, all of this self-discovery and analysis is jumpstarted by bringing it to light, which in my opinion, is the first yet most important step.
According to Oxford, the male gaze is the "the perspective of a notionally typical heterosexual man considered as embodied in the audience or intended audience for films and other visual media, characterized by a tendency to objectify or sexualize women." This is quite the definition to unpack, but basically, because a myriad of media is created through a man's point of view (or a woman or person that has grown accustomed to watching male-crafted narratives), certain stories, dialogue, costuming, production techniques (like types of shots, movement, framing, etc.), and characters are created in a way that portray women in a potentially harmful manner. For instance, an action movie may focus on a woman's curves in tight, leather costuming, using close-ups of her more intimate parts to make the audience focus on how "attractive" she is. The camera, in this situation, are the audience's (and director's) eyes, which rake through her body and focus mostly on the physical. It makes that woman seem like she is mostly there to pose as a sexual object, mainly for the audience's entertainment and arousal. This leads to the objectification of women, belittling them and making it seem as if their only purpose in stories is to look "sexy."
Though it may not seem like a huge problem to some, this specific portrayal can cause extreme amounts of damage, especially since this has become a widespread practice among various genres of film (and of course, other visual media like photography, magazines, etc.). This makes viewers develop a very specific way of consuming content, enforcing constraining gender norms and ultimately affecting society's behavior towards certain groups, since many expect real life to match the reality they experience through the content they consume. Unfortunately, this is not even the most harmful aspect of the male gaze, at least in my opinion. Again, since specific groups of people are being showcased in a certain way and those on-screen characters ultimately represent the entire group, many viewers consume this visual media and feel the need to meet those unrealistic, clearly fabricated expectations. In terms of women, this leads to intense self-objectification, a decrease in self-esteem and interestingly, performative femininity. This is because many wish to be seen the way other women are viewed in movies or other forms of media because this is what they think womanhood should be like. Ultimately, this need for validation (either hidden or not) can lead to unhappiness, confusion, frustration, and overall dissatisfaction with one's life and image. Many women may also change their behavior to meet these expectations, straying further away from who they are at their core.
Sadly, that only scratches the surface.
I've had countless conversations not just with myself but with others regarding this phenomena, and it is both extremely fascinating and terrifying how one concept can hold so much power. Many women say that the male gaze has affected even how they act when they are alone, or how they act towards other women. The male gaze can also affect people in terms of their sexuality and how they feel about women, in addition to how they feel about themselves, particularly in sexual situations.
As you can see, this is so much to unpack... But it is extremely important to talk about. At least in my experience, learning about the male gaze (and female gaze, which is its own monster and equally as problematic) has allowed me to detect harmful beliefs about womanhood, femininity, etc. and unlearn them, brining me closer to myself and allowing me to become more comfortable with my own body. This self-discovery is priceless - and being able to consume media, detect the male gaze, and analyze things critically allows society to view things from a more realistic lens, preventing any additional emotional turmoil. This is why awareness is CRUCIAL! And I would love to create something that shines a light on this issue, brings people together, and promotes social change.
Creating a documentary about this would be quite the task... But I think that as long as I write clear, comprehensible questions with a goal in mind, it won't be impossible. I just have to be extremely aware of where the interview is going that way we don't get too off topic. Unfortunately we also will not be able to discuss every nook and cranny of this issue, because in reality, one could talk about the male gaze for days and still not be able to fully cover its effects. We need to pick some main points and stay focused.
I think I would like to concentrate mainly on how the male gaze affects teenagers growing up in a technologically advanced world, since they have been exposed to it at a much younger age and therefore may have specific thoughts to add about that. I think narrowing it down to a certain age group will also make it easier to edit and put together, especially since both Kim and I are part of that age group and have also been affected by the male gaze. After all, it is best to write stories you know. I think this documentary would definitely be a challenge, but it could also be a very fruitful, much-needed documentary that sparks a conversation I think many women need to have.
Here are some resources I used to learn more about this:
Jill Soloway's Masterclass
Laura Mulvey and the Male Gaze Theory
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