The male gaze is the unwanted
stare, that silent message of ‘I want you’, and the uncomfortable feeling on
your back. It follows women everywhere regardless of how we look, and it causes
us to feel like objects. John Berger
says, “Me look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at.” This pressure
that is put on women causes them to maintain a look that is ultimately unattainable.
From the time that we are born that is the first thing a woman is taught to
think about, how her dress fits, is her hair frizzy, and if our lipstick is red
enough. The male gaze is what tells women that it is, with that said we seek
that attention. It is a fact that as humans we are extremely materialistic ,
and we allow it to shape our minds and way of life.
Since
we are materialistic, we look to different types of media to tell us what is “in”.
From raunchy commercials and sensual car adds, to exploitation of women in the
video industry. Young women especially are encouraged to believe that walking
around with little to no clothing on is sexy and the style now. Our society
creates a false status that many women wish to stand on, what they don’t know
is that it encircles around disrespect. They are setting themselves up for men
to believe that since they dress like that and respond to my cat calls, it must
be ok to continue to do so with every woman. Unfortunately men are that simple
minded, but back to women. This constant attention makes us feel powerful, we
want the looks, we want to flaunt our hip and thighs. Some are just not willing
to wait for that one gentlemen, they believe the self – told lie that is what’s
sexy.
Bell Hooks focuses more on the
oppositional gaze. It kinda gives us the recognition of our own power to react.
This gives us some sort of leeway of being rebellious and brings an air of
equality to the table. This may alter
the playing field, but it does not pluck the root of the issue. Knowing that
you have power allows you to have a sort of control over the situation. With
Bell Hooks we see a battle of sexism and racism, and it attacks the lack of diversity
in mainstream advertisement and media. By doing this she hopes to diminish ignorance
and acknowledge reality through her films.
Now I am not going to sit here and
try to say that all women and men are airheads that listen only to what the
media says. That would just be the implement of pointing the finger. There is
some type of hope. As a woman, I can only really see from one side of the
window. I can only infer with great reasoning how a man thinks. One that note I
can go on and say that were are not all sex crazed beings. Few have been able
to be civil and to speak to one another without the disrespect. In retrospect
this isn’t a sexist problem it is humanity itself.
If we were to speak up about these issues then we wouldn't have to stress this much. The battle between the sexes wouldn't be so rough. And if a problem did arise it would be less intense then the one we a fighting now. We point fingers without looking at the real problem, men and women can interact without women being objectified. Sadly since this is how it has been since the beginning of time, old habits die hard.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/06/stop-telling-women-to-smile_n_3876041.html?utm_hp_ref=womens-empowerment
"Since we are materialistic, we look to different types of media to tell us what is “in”. From raunchy commercials and sensual car adds, to exploitation of women in the video industry. Young women especially are encouraged to believe that walking around with little to no clothing on is sexy and the style now. Our society creates a false status that many women wish to stand on, what they don’t know is that it encircles around disrespect. They are setting themselves up for men to believe that since they dress like that and respond to my cat calls, it must be ok to continue to do so with every woman. Unfortunately men are that simple minded, but back to women. This constant attention makes us feel powerful, we want the looks, we want to flaunt our hip and thighs. Some are just not willing to wait for that one gentlemen, they believe the self – told lie that is what’s sexy."
ReplyDeleteA woman's decision to present in a certain way, including modestly or wearing very little clothing, is not the root of the male gaze. Being covered from head to toe does not magically erase a woman's hips, legs, thighs, and other sexualized body parts. The amount of clothing a woman wears does not correlate to the amount of self-respect she has. Usually when one uses the term "self-respect" it's because they are uncomfortable with how another individual or group behaves or appears. Women are often implicated for internalizing the images and messages of sexiness they are constantly inundated with. I'd like to believe that women have agency and make decisions for themselves, not only thinking about serving the male gaze. If a woman wants to dress up for men, that's okay too. However, no matter how she responds to a man's catcalls, attempts at flirting, and other interactions with men, threatening her safety and saying she brought the mistreatment upon herself is never justified.
Men are fully capable of not being terrible, so I don't buy the "simple-minded" excuse. I also think there's a difference between wanting attention, which we all want at least sometimes and there's nothing wrong with that, and receiving it when it's unsolicited. Women are often told they shouldn't want it; it reminds me of John Berger's quote about the "Vanity" painting. Is it only acceptable if a man creates an image of a woman who flaunts her body, for him and other men to gaze upon? I guess it's not acceptable if a real life woman revels in her looks! She's accused of egoism, narcissism, and other -isms, which are all negative qualities to be associated with.
My own self presentation can be called modest and often androgynous and I still get harassed on the street and in other public spheres. I think I benefit from androcentrism in my self presentation but no matter what, I am female-bodied and [usually] identified as a girl/woman. There's nothing new about this; street harassment isn't really about how scantily clad women are (which obviously requires commentary from strangers, of course!) and how much "self-respect" they have (again: more skin covered =/= more "self-respect"), it's about men asserting their positions of power, thinking they are entitled to women's bodies.
"Now I am not going to sit here and try to say that all women and men are airheads that listen only to what the media says."
People don't immediately internalize media: what media does is reinforce the already prevalent ideas in society.