The subjugation of an individual should never be justified by a social system such as Patriarchy. American social reformer, Susan B Anthony once said, “No man is good enough to govern any woman without her consent.” Yet under the social system of patriarchy, women have accepted the suppression and have become victims and subordinates of male dominance ever since the existence of gender. Generally men have always had the prominent and influential role in any society thanks to patriarchy. "Patriarchy is a political-social system that insists males are inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone deemed weak." ( Hook 18) Based on Bell Hook's reading, women are already born into this system that has reign over societies for many centuries. Even till this day we have not made much progress in gender equality therefore men are still viewed as the authoritative figures that have the liberty to overrule women. Whether people realize or not patriarchy has been implemented in our minds not only politically, but spiritually as well. Hook explains in her reading that religion is one of the main reasons why many people believe in patriarchy. God is portrayed as a male in majority of the religions in the world, and Hook states "At church they had learned that God created men to rule the world and everything in it and that it was the work of women to help men perform these tasks, to obey, and to always assume a subordinate role in relation to a powerful man." (Hook 18)
It is hard to believe that there is still a high percentage of men that still view women as feeble, overly-emotional, sex-toys, instead of human beings. These exact men are the ones that defend rape, and harassment and violence towards women. These are the men that believe that gender equality is just a myth, and that women are not worthy of even getting equal pay for the same exact job they both are capable of doing. It is because of this pervasive mentality that has been passed over centuries that men still feel like they have that entitlement and obligation to belittle another human based on their gender. In places located in the Middle East, women are not offered education or legal rights , some are not even allowed to drive a car. But just like the Middle East subjugates their women it does not mean that other nations are doing any better. In a country as progressive as the United States there are still rapes occurring every day at colleges, at streets, and other places. In fact there is not one day that a woman does not face sexual harassment such as " Cat-Calling" as she is walking down the street on her way home. In the eyes of men, women become objects, property, which is both pitiful and sickening.
Throughout history women have been suppressed in politics, in business, in science, and even in art. You see, because of patriarchy men automatically saw women as objects whose sole purpose was to pleasure the male. For example, in art, male artists created this thing called the "Male Gaze." The Male Gaze exist in paintings, films, and performances, in which females are the main subjects. The male artist only cares for one audience, which is the male audience. Women are depicted as sexual objects, temptresses, and property, women are not to show any sign of pleasure or any emotion in general. Men are the only ones that are supposed to feel arousal, pleasure, and be "flattered" by the art. A painting that perfectly portrays the male gaze is by the painter Hans Memling, his painting 'Vanity' shows a woman looking into a mirror, but she is not really being vain or admiring her beauty. Her body is positioned in a particular way that the audience can get a full, perfect view of her bare body. In fact her face almost shows no expression which proves the whole concept of the male gaze. Majority of female nude paintings are similar to this one, women are just another object in art that are suppose to visually stimulate the male.
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Hans Memling (1435-1494) Vanity 1485 |
The male gaze continues to exist even till this day, as we know that majority of our advertisements today feature women in an overly sexual way. In this day and age we all know that "Sex sells" which is why majority of the content in billboards, commercials, and ads will feature women in an almost promiscuous way. This specific Calvin Klein Jeans ad demonstrates how women are still seen as sexual objects in today's society. The woman is almost showing no expression, while a male is on top of her, as if almost taking advantage of her. Yet that is not exactly what is the most controversial part of this ad, two other men are also in the ad, one of them has her head rested on his legs and the other looks casual and not phased by what is going on. This ad was ordered to be taken down in Australia as many claimed that it promoted " Rape and violence." This article by Belinda White from Telegraph.co.uk states "Explaining their decision to order the removal of the ads the Board said they considered the image was demeaning to women by suggesting that she is a plaything of these men. It also demeans men by implying sexualised violence against women. Whilst the act depicted could be consensual, the overall impact and most likely takeout is that the scene is suggestive of violence and rape."
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Calvin Klein Jeans |
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