The Male Gaze

In Laura Mulvey’s essay Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema which was published in 1975. Laura Mulvey states that in film women are typically the objects, rather than the possessors. In ways of seeing, John Berger says “The surveyor of woman in herself is male; the surveyed female. Thus she turns herself into an object - and most particularly an object of vision:a sight.” (Berger 47)Berger also shows a lot of paintings about naked women. Men watched a woman and painted them to let more people watch them as an object. Then they gave women a mirror to make women watch themselves. (Berger 51) The reason why we say women is an object is that “the nakedness is not, however, an expression of her own feelings; it is a sign of her submission to the owner’s feelings or demands” (Berger 52)this shows that men are trying to use this ways to tell the society that this is men’s world. This world is ruled by men. Women is always an object to serve, to obey, to be watched. “the prize is to be owed by a judge-that is to say to be available for him.” (Berger 52)At that time, the painters and the judges are “him” these nude paintings show that women are controlled and ruled by men. Due to this reason, most of nude paintings are women instead of men. 

Patriarchy is defined as a social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family in both domestic and religious function...Patriarchy is characterized by male domination and power” (Hook 17)Basically patriarchy means men rule the world. Bell Hooks was told how to be a girl by her parents. When Hooks played game with her brother she shows that she is aggressive, competitive and strong. Her father did not only forced her to stop the game but also taught her brother to excluded her from the game. By using an excuse which is “girls did not play with marbles” men could exclude women from any area. When they found any possibility that women could do better they will do their best to exclude women. Also Hooks’s father taught his son how to exclude women when women shows their talent in some area. Hooks’s mom is a male world follower. Hooks mom says “ I tried to warn you. You need to accept that you are just a little girl and girls can't do what boys do” (Hook 21) I was shocked when I saw her mom’s words. An older woman is teaching a younger woman how to obey the male world’s rule instead of fighting for female rights. This is sympathetic, ridiculous and ironic. As a business school student I am always asked to wear a black suit. I was wondering why should I wear a black suit. It is not comfortable or pretty. But I have to wear it because this is a rule to wear it. However, who makes the rule? And why should I follow the rule and dress like a guy? Then I feel I find the answer. If women want to get into some area like business or politics they need to show that they could work, act or dress like a man. 

In Big girl don't cry, Stephanie Rosenbloom shows that people will get fired if they cry at work. Crying is a way that most women express their feelings. However, people think crying means weakness. “"Men are allowed to be more direct," said Marianne Lafrance, a psychology professor at Yale University. "They can pound table tops and yell and throw something against walls and do various kinds of physical acting out. Women's mode of expression is supposed to be more passive, more childlike." She continued, "If women could act out like men, there would probably be less tears."" (Rosenbloom)I want to ask why should I act like a men. If I want to express my feelings by crying I will cry just like men pound table tops and yell. Crying and yelling are ways to express emotion. However, they put a label “weakness and childlike” on crying. In my opinion, yelling is also stupid. Because yelling does not help you with anything except expressing your feelings. Why yelling and pounding table could be an appropriate way to express feelings?

a picture from Gone With the Wind
this picture shows that Scarlett just lose her husband.

This is a picture from Gone With The Wind, one of my favorite book. Scarlett just lose her husband. So she is not supposed to attend any party and she has to wear black dress. In this picture, her eyes are full of the willing to dance and to be part of the party. Who makes the rule that widows must dress black and feel sad? If a man lose his wife, will anyone force him to do the same? 

I have to say this is a funny picture which shows the truth. Maybe no one actually cares but girls feel like they are being watched when they are walking through the hallways.

funny picture shows different between men and women

Miss Representation Trailer is an interesting trailer from YouTube. This video shows the media is affecting young people.

References 

Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. London: British Broadcasting Corporation. 1973. Print
Hooks, Bell.  Understanding Patriarchy. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love. New York:Washington Square, 2004. Print.