By Sofia Riker
The idea of the “male gaze” is most visually present in the film industry, where female characters are often depicted through the eyes of a man. Often, this view is overly sexual and “associated with the male protagonist’s point-of-view” (Loreck, 2016). Through camera angles and plot positioning, it has historically been made clear that women are objects to be desired from the heterosexual male perspective. Even when it has nothing to do with the plot, women’s bodies and sexual energy is put on full display.
In contemporary films, women are depicted as more complex and central to the plot, yet this view remains. They are expected to perform their function as characters, while still adhering to heterosexual male fantasies (Loreck, 2016).
Why does this matter?
Growing up in a culture that depicts women in this way can cause an internalization of this gaze. Women have been conditioned to adopt this male gaze that is so present in media and film, which ultimately reaffirms the power of the patriarchy. It becomes a relationship between how men view women and then how women, in turn, view themselves. This follows the idea of self-objectification theory, described as when “sexually objectifying experiences encourage women to adopt observers’ sexually objectifying gaze on the self” (Guizzo & Cadinu, 2017). Even in non-sexual contexts, women become their own surveyor of themselves.
“Male fantasies, male fantasies, is everything run by male fantasies? Up on a pedestal or down on your knees, it’s all a male fantasy: that you’re strong enough to take what they dish out, or else too weak to do anything about it… You are a woman with a man inside watching a woman. You are your own voyeur.”
Margaret Atwood
How does this affect women?
Research by Guizzo and Cadinu (2017) simulated the experience of the male gaze through a series of tasks. The experiment reveals that internalized beauty standards and the male gaze have a significant negative impact on women’s cognitive performance. Women were unable to reach a peak motivational state, or “flow”, under these conditions. The experience of flow is essential in creativity, pleasure, and overall fulfillment – yet women are less likely to reach it because of self-objectification.
Our society’s perpetuation of internalized body ideals is additionally problematic in overall quality of life, as studied by Calogero (2004). He studies the anxiety and shame experienced by the prevailing male gaze through a series of questionnaires. The results and relationships between these questionnaires reveal that self-objectification is a negative experience that occurs regardless of observers or context.
Ultimately, what these two studies show is that the internalized male gaze is in fact a valid concept that negatively impacts women. The subconscious internalization of these expectations impact women’s cognitive performance and overall quality of life (Guizzo & Cadinu, 2017 & Calogero, 2004). The additional strife that these societal expectations put on women provide an additional barrier to success in so many different spheres: education, the workplace, relationships, etc. It is not something that can be escaped.
The responsibility of removing this mindset should not fall on women, instead our society as a whole need to re-evaluate the patriarchal systems that led to such gendered and over-sexualized expectations.
Calogero, Rachel M. vol. 28, Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2004, pp. 16–21, A Test of Objectification Theory: The Effect of the Male Gaze on Appearance Concerns in College Women.
Guizzo, Francesca, and Mara Cadina. vol. 56, British Journal of Social Pscyhology, 2017, pp. 281–292, Effects of Objectifying Gaze on Female Cognitive Performance: The Role of Flow Experience and Internalization of Beauty Ideals.
Loreck, Janice. “Explainer: What Does the ‘Male Gaze’ Mean, and What about a Female Gaze?” The Conversation , 5 Jan. 2016, theconversation.com/explainer-what-does-the-male-gaze-mean-and-what-about-a-female-gaze-52486.
