Male Gaze

Romanda Abedair 

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The male gaze is a concept where women become the object in a picture while men stare at the body that is presented to them for their sexual satisfactory. The idea of male gazing is not a new concept, in fact it have been presented since the biblical story "Adam and Eve". In the book "Ways of Seeing" written by John Berger, he explains that "men act and women appear". In other words women become the sight for men. Berger's mentioned the concept of nudity in "Adam and Eve" and realized that Eve had full responsibility for betraying God, which today affects the way women are treated (49). In the story Eve was blamed for being tempted by eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and then manipulating Adam. The confusing aspect is that Adam was not as harshly punished to the same extent as Eve. People view the story as if the female was blamed for almost everything and now should become the object before they make another "mistake".

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrvCrHxqrT8GomxnZg7sn-CWqLLJfqzw0KiQvYxDGEzcVmiYzx826H3TZVAv0nZVplZ42HIflt713sNGePUrBv0fYwTQ0gXI7X2t8-qcs0I1oETJBB6cJUg3BPy4oVXuDEa6omt3Xp0qv/s1600/Spring-Breakers-A-Morality-Tale-That-Objectifies-Women.jpg

From the movie "Spring Breakers" the main characters are dressed in

bikinis and posing in a sexual stance to impress and encourage the male 

gaze and objectify women in order to attract more viewers to watch the movie 

Nonetheless, the male gaze appears not only in paintings, but in movies, advertisement and photographs. Any art that appears where men are staring at a female is gazing. Marketing uses the idea of male gazes to sell their products because the idea is implanted in the minds of many from the older generation. However, Justine Musk, a writer in the Huffington post, states her opinion as a female should wear whatever attire she choses, which does not mean she does this in the purpose of impressing the male gaze.Unfortunately, due to the male gaze people are not able to have an understanding of Musks opinion. 

Owned by Dolce & Gabbana
This picture is an example of male gaze in media and advertisement because since people have male gaze implanted is their minds, companies use this factor to have the audience gaze at both the female and product until they purchase the product.

The male gaze is mostly blamed for the competition women have with each other, which consists of how beautiful females appear in their eyes. According to Berger, the male gazing painting "The Judgement of Paris" by Rubens in 1640 explains that a man is giving an apple (as a reward) to a women who he most attracted to (53). This creates a sense of jealously, judgement, and competition between women, if a women is called beautiful then she is and other women wait for the same compliment.

Rubens, The Judgement of Paris, 1577-1960

       https://i1.wp.com/www.avoiceformen.com

Patriarchy is a known structure where males are dominate and over rule women, which characterizes male and their dominance (23). People are taught gender roles once they are born and are expected to follow these given rules. In Bell Hooks essay "The Will to Change" she describes that the patriarchy is an oppressor to men because society demands men to act a certain way. For example, as a child Hooks would be punished for playing roughly while her brother would get in trouble when not "manning up"(20). She was physically abused by her father when she "played like a boy". Her father's mind set was by abusing Hooks it would prove that he was head of household (20). Meanwhile her brother enjoyed playing with dolls and was often "brutalized and victimized by patriarchy more often then not becoming patriarchal"(28). In other words, females are not  the only ones that are victimized in the gender structure, in fact when males do not express their "masculist" it is shown as a sign of weakness from society's perspective. Hooks writes, “I often use the phrase ‘imperialist white-supremacist capi­talist patriarchy’ to describe the interlocking political sys­tems that are the foundation of our nation’s politics” (17). The phrase she describes is based on the worlds values. In the essay she does not target a specific group or person, instead a system as a whole, it is not dependent on a race, class or gender. For example, she wants the audience to know that one cannot talk about race without mentioning gender or vise-versa. People cannot ignore the issues without simply talking about the core problem. If the issues are ignored and denied then it will never be resolved and as long can people engage in it then it will only grow larger. 

At first I did not know what the male gaze was, however, after reading John Berger and Bell Hooks I came to a realization that this is a complicated yet resolvable issue. I was brain washed by the media because I did not notice or understand the male gaze. I thought that this was natural and how I was raised. Agreeing with Hooks, now that being aware of this the issues I can now alert people and together people can destroy the patriarchy structure.  

Work Citied

Berger, John, Sven Blomberg, Chris Fox, Michael Dibb, and Richard Hollis. Ways of Seeing. London, England: British Broadcasting Corportion, 1973. Print.

 

Espinoza, Guadalupe, Audrey Hokoda, Emilio C. Ulloa, Monica D. Ulibarri, and Donna Castaneda. "Gender Differences in the Relations among Patriarchal Beliefs, Parenting and Teen Relationship Violence in Mexican Adolescents." Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2012. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Quora. "The Real Reason Women Like to Look Sexy." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.

Hooks, Bell. "The Will to Change." Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.

Mini Post: Georgia O'Keeffe

Aritha Samad

January 31, 2017

GEORGIA O'KEEFFE 

 

"  M O T H E R   O F   A M E R I C A N   M O D E R N I S M  "

Interestingly, her audience often found the women's genitalia in her flower paintings. Though O'Keeffe denied that interpretation, she reminds us "nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." She concluded the formula to paint the perfect picture included choosing a simple subject, using vibrant colors, and getting up close and personal. In 2014, O'Keeffe's incredible floral piece Jimson Weed sold for $44,405,000. Take that, tuition and everyone who argues "art isn't a real major."

Georgia O'Keeffe, Sky Above Clouds, in 1963

In 1905, Georgia O'Keeffe picked up her pencil to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Art Students League of New York. However, insufficient funds drove away from school and into Virginia, Texas, and South Carolina to pursue teaching. By 1918, she was able to swap her chalk for a paint brush. O'Keeffe's painting career flourished with large-scale of flowers, skyscrapers, and landscapes. Today, O'Keeffe is often referred to as the "Mother of American modernism.

Georgia O'Keeffe, Jimson Weed, in 1936

       

                                                                                           Male Gaze

       In the Caribbean they didn't teach us about male gaze. But as a young teenage in Jamaica I had experienced old men and teens always persuading me to date them; however, because I had fully mature into my body it was as if I had a target on my back or a prize for them to win. Similarly in Berger book the women were treated in a similar manner; 

     That part of a woman's self which is the surveyor treats to part which 

            is the surveyed so as to demonstrate to others how her whole self would

  like to be treated.... If a woman throws a glass on the floor, this is an 

             example of how she treats her own emotion of anger and so of how she  

          would wish it to be treated by other. If a man does the same, his action  

   only read as an expression of his anger (46,47).

          Ironically Berger statement states that a woman should be underline a barbie, object, and play thing for men not a person/ human being capable of raw emotion. Well on the other hand, the male can blow up like TNT and no one would shun him for his actions but the female would be stone like the woman in the bible stone for her act of adultery in the book of John 8:1-11.   Her job is to look good and be brain dead zombie hashtag Act Like a Lady Think like man.

  Reflecting on animations I'd watched growing up like Naruto a Japanese Manga the women and same of the girls were sexual objects but at the sometime Naruto used sexy justu to transform himself into a hot girl.

     Berger said about The Allegory or Time and Lover,

The complicated symbolism which lies behind this painting

need not concern us now because it does not affect its sexual

appeal-at the first degree. Before it is anything else, this is a

painting of sexual provocation.... it is true that sometimes a

painting includes a male lover.... The painting was sent as a

 present from the Grand Duke of Florence to the King of  

France. The boy kneeling on the cushion and kissing the

woman is cupid. She is Venus. But the way her body is

arranged has nothing to do with their kissing. Her body is 

arranged in the way it is, to display it to the man looking at 

the picture. This picture is made to appeal to his sexuality. 

It has nothing to do with her sexuality(54-56). 

     

      Like in the Renaissance painting Masashi Kishimoto, put Hinata in a compromising position with Naruto and in the background staring at them and Hinata looks ashamed in this scene for Naruto can be compared to the painting by Bronzino ' Venus, Cupid Time and Love' Venus is lusting at cupid her own son will everyone is watching and the young angel is cheering them on. But you look closer at the painting you can see she actually posted for the viewer and the painter to lust at her body as she give into her son sexuality. The painting by Tintoretto 'Susannah and Elders' is similar to the scene in Naruto where Sakura and Hinata was bathing and we the spectators watch, just like the own of the painting watched Susannah bathing. At a young age we're teaching children about male gazing without even know that we're mentally suppressing them to the terminology of sex sells.   In the dancehall music industry the musicians/ artists sings scandalous music about sex and the female musicians and also the dancers dresses provocative on stage. Some of the male dancehall dancers treat the women their dancing with like object, piece of meat and trash.  But on the other hand, the females are partially nude wining and gyrating their bodies on stage with partners or even on random men from the audience. Their performance is like their having sexual activities in public. Artists like Lady Saw, Spice and even the latin artists like Shakira are sex symbols in the pubic eyes and the music industry.      In the will to change be Bell hooks she spoke about the rules the both sex plays and what weak boys faced.  

                               Terrence real tells how his sons were initiated into 

                     patriarchal thinking even as their parents worked to create a

                    loving home in which antipatriacrchal values prevailed. He 

                    tells of how his young son Alexander enjoyed dressing as 

                   Barbie until boys playing with his older brother witnessed his 

                  Barbie persona and let him know by their gaze and their shocked,

                 disapproving silence that his behavior was unacceptable.... To

                indoctrinate boys into the rules of patriarchy, we force them to feel 

                pain and to deny their feelings (22).

       Because boys should not play with dolls or dress like a girl, Alexander bother and his friends shun him cause he was more comfortable as a girl and not a boy and that is a no no in their world. They brainwashed him to believe that something was wrong with him because he share his feeling. In the end patriotism won and change his life. 

     What I have learned from the male gaze and patriarchy reading is to remember to teach children to share their emotions and regardless of their sexuality they should have the freedom to be themselves not living by a system. In the end it's their true personality is the most important thing at the end of the day and also to be mindful of the type of social media outlets they're exposed to social media. 

Male Gaze

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The male gaze is the surveying of women by men, resulting in women becoming objects of vision. It belittles a woman’s essence by reconstructing her presence to only flatter viewers. The male gaze is pervasive in art and in popular culture because of patriarchy. A male dominated social system has made it that the “ideal” spectator is always assumed to be a man. Therefore, depictions of women are often constructed by men for men.

The male gaze has persisted throughout modern times, and is perhaps stronger now than ever. Its reach is most prevalent in advertising. Products are marketed with varying levels of suggestive content. Some are explicit in their intent, while some exercise a bit of subtly.
This iPhone case is an example of the male gaze in action. The model is photographed in a seductive pose while wearing clothing that carefully accentuates her figure. You rarely, if ever, find these types of photographs with males as the visual subject.

Patriarchy, as described by Bell Hooks, “is a political-social system that insists that males are inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone deemed weak, especially females, and endowed with the right to dominate and rule over the weak and to maintain that dominance through various forms of psychological terrorism and violence,” (Hooks 19). An example of patriarchy is the president of the United States, a male, and his male dominated administration making executive decisions on things like abortion and contraceptives; subject matters that affect women the most, yet these decisions are not made by or in conjunction with women. Another example of patriarchy is telling a seven year old boy he can’t have his own kitchen play set because “that’s not what young boys play with.” It is an attempt to reinforce the gender roles established within patriarchy. If a male does anything outside of what is expected of him, he is seen as not upholding the ideals of male dominance and must be reminded of his role.

media.nbcdfw.com

I’ve come to understand patriarchy and the male gaze as detrimental structures to the stability of the human psyche. Individuals are engrained with ideals that clearly do not promote healthy outcomes. Equality is clearly nonexistent within these structures. This understanding has certainly made me more critical of the various art and media outlets that people are left to consume. And as an adult man, my understanding of patriarchy now has only made me realize even more why I was never really on board with the whole concept in the first place. As a young child I never understood why it was necessary that men always be required to uphold a sense of dominance in virtually everything they do. I never saw the significance in embracing a male dominated society. Whenever I questioned that ideal, the response I received was often, “that’s just the way things are.” It didn’t take long to see that I would either have to accept these norms or challenge them. It became apparent to me that there was no role for me within the patriarchal system, and that I’d be among those who try to dismantle its rhetoric.

The psychological impact that patriarchy and the male gaze cause is the most alarming to me. There are countless people whose identities are shaped by ideals that are not inherently their own. And while some people may grow to eventually realize the importance of equality, and that a personal change is necessary for them to be the person they truly feel comfortable being, many will continue to adhere to the ideals in place. I think everything starts on an individual level, and until everyone can truly see the harm that these structures are doing to society, the process of changing for the better will be a frustratingly slow one.

The Male Gaze and Patriarchal Influence

The male gaze is a form of stereotype that is associated with modern day paintings and commercialism of hundreds of products. The male gaze refers to the way that the world views women in a masculine point of view, as simple objects to pleasure men. The term was first coined by Laura Mulvey in 1975 describing this phenomenon in three aspects - person behind the camera, characters in the painting or film, and the spectator viewing the painting. As discussed in class, the effect of the male gaze in pervasive in all art and popular culture. For instance, John Berger’s “Ways of Seeing” displays the male gaze in each painting especially in “Reclining Bacchante” by Trutat. In this, all three aspects of the painting are visible. The person behind the painting is painting a woman that is vain, the way she is posed is to expose her genitalia to the spectator. Next, the woman herself is placed as available and attempting to please the specter - primarily men. The man that is looking at her is paid no attention, she’s there to pleasure the spectator of the painting. The male gaze is portrayed for the men to be pleasured by the women in the paintings. Women are simple objects to be looked at and decorated for the pleasure of men. Even though these paintings are hundreds of years old, the same idea is prevalent in today’s commercials. Women represented by agencies such as Victoria’s Secret are placed and modeled in a similar gaze - to pursue the spectator. They are showcased in lingerie that is revealing and meant for men and women - for men, it’s to be admired, and for women, is to pursue the same looks.

Patriarchy is type of structure that worships men and their superiority over women. There are generally traditional gender roles assigned to men and women. Men are supposed to be, as Bell Hooks describes them, “Patriarchy demands of men that they become and remain emotional cripples. Since it is a system that denies men full access to their freedom of will, it is difficult for any man of any class to rebel against patriarchy, to be disloyal to the patriarchal parent, be that parent male or female,” (27). There’s this intense pressure for men to be “strong,” while women are intended to be emotional and caring without any intellect. In the past, this notion was more prominent in a society that portrayed men as the head of the household. However, even in the present, there are traditional gender roles that are taken up throughout society. For instance, when I was a child, my brother and I used to play sports together - however, my grandparents did not approve of me doing track or playing lacrosse simply because I was a girl. However, my parents pushed past their criticism and allowed us to express ourselves the way we’ve always wanted to - which led us to be emotional equivalents. All in all, the notion of patriarchy is still visible in today’s generation. For instance, when President Donald Trump signed the gag rule, there was a similar pattern of patriarchy. The image of President Trump signing the “global gag rule” order, he’s surrounded by men with power that are making the decisions for all women. These instances of men making decisions that impact only women implies that women do not get a say in this matter. Largely this decision impacts women without any women present in the office to help explain the meaning of such a large legal order. As the instability in political regime increases, this notion of patriarchy is being instilled in the hearts of Americans that have worked hard to create an equal and graceful environment.

"The Global Gag Rule - President Donald Trump"

"Reclining Bacchante" - Trutat

Understanding the Male Gaze & Patriarchy 

The male gaze is a description that exemplifies gender roles within society and examines how men act and women appear. The implication is that women are created and displayed in order to soothe the mans preferences and desires. For example, the male gaze is always assumed when creating images. Whether it is for a book, magazine, movie, or even advertisement, the woman used always has some sort of sex appeal that would attract any average male. According to John Berger, "Men survey women before treating them. Consequently how a woman appears to a man can determine how she will be treated" (Berger 46). Women were always treated differently ever since the birth of Adam and Eve. In the story, Adam and Eve both bite the forbidden fruit but Eve is labeled as disobedient and is punished for her actions. After the crime was done, they both realized that they were naked, stemming the phrase "beauty is within the eye of the beholder". Eve is the one who was punished and exiled but Adam received no punishment that was just as severe. Ever since this incident, a women's being is tainted due to the simple action that took place in the beginning of time. Therefore, the world grew up to view women as beautiful, fragile, and emotional human beings that must always subject to the male. Evidence of the male gaze is still pervasive in art and in pop culture today simply because a majority of women care about what people think. Women are more prone to look and act a certain way in order to satisfy not only her needs and wants but also the man's. The judgement of a man, other than her own judgement of herself, is most important to her due to the fact that men are seen as dominant individuals. A women's self-respect is then belittled in order to satisfy the positive judgement the woman is looking for from the man. She decreases her self worth and value to make herself acceptable to a man she wishes to attract. It is often in society you hear phrases such as " Who are you trying to get cute for?" or " Which one do you think he'll like?". Berger states, “thus she turns herself into an object-and most particularly an object of vision: a sight” (Berger 47).  Wether women admit it or subconsciously do it, they seek attention.Women care about the attention she's going to receive from a man. The male gaze is prominent in todays society based on how the media sells beauty. The media gives us an image where women are made to be perfect. They should have curves, do their hair, buy expensive makeup and clothes all for the sake of the man. But how often do you find a male movie director portraying women as having "average beauty" or qualities? There's always that one hot chick everyone admires to be, such as in the films "Easy A " or "Mean Girls". Whether it's looking good for another person or ones self, the male gaze is still prominent in the music, advertisements,  and readings in today's society.

https://storify.com/dondelli/evolution-of-male-gaze

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_meangirls.png

Similar to the gender roles displayed in the male gaze, patriarchy, according to Bell Hooks, is " a political-social system that insists that males are inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone, deemed weak, especially females, and endowed with the right to dominate and rule over the weak and to maintain that dominance through various forms of psychological terrorism and violence" (Bell hooks 18). In simple terms, men are dominant and strong, women are weak and fragile. Although this term is not coined in our everyday language, the jobs that are given to each male and female provide strong examples of patriarchy in todays society. For example, men are usually granted jobs in construction while most female aren't. Also, women teachers are most likely hired  in elementary schools compared to men. Jobs that require physically strenuous work are not given to females because of patriarchy, the roles society expect us to play. Because of these gender roles, I feel contained to what I can and can't do as a female. A lot of it is because the media brainwashes us. They tell us what we can do, what we should wear, how we should look but females shouldn't abide by those boundaries. Especially since we know we are capable of doing more. If a mans ego is threatened they become rude and violent. So as a whole we need to stop these gender specifications and do what we want simply because we can. If it so happens that we do it better than the next male in line then so be it. Just because i'm a female should not prevent me from being greater than a man. 

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Works Cited

Berger, John, Sven Blomberg, Chris Fox, Michael Dibb, and Richard Hollis. Ways of Seeing. London, England: British Broadcasting Corportion, 1973. Print.

 

Hooks, Bell. "The Will to Change." Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.

The Male Gaze and Patriarchy Understandin

http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/34166/1/why-we-still-need-ways-of-seeing-john-berger

The male gaze is having women look available and enticing to the man/viewer that is observing the painting, and or the page in a magazine to feel a sense of feeling wanted by the woman.  Berger mentions, "…but because the “ideal” spectator is always assumed to be male and the image of woman is designed to flatter him” (64).  The women in society is always checking and changing themselves to please the male through advertisement and movies since the beginning of time in the western culture.  Berger writes, “the unequal relationship is so deeply embedded in our culture that it structures the consciousness of many woman.  They do to themselves what men do to them.  They survey, like men, their own femininity” (63).  Lots of women are always judging themselves daily and they also judge and critique other women by trying to talk down on other woman if they do not fit their ideal beauty standards.  Men are not catty and so judgmental of other men, resulting in so much pressure that is placed on the woman.  Diversity makes women beautiful and if you were born with certain distinctive characteristics that are unique it can make others transform and or want to transform even through surgical procedures at times to please the male gaze.  Once women love themselves naturally and embrace other women beauty, I believe men would appreciate and value them more than just objects, but with respect and pride.  The media portrays factitious women most of the time making it impossible for young women and women in general to relate to.  Most men do not even see beauty in those falsified women in the media, but into an unrealistic object.  Berger states, “consequently how a woman appears to a man can determine how she will be treated” (46).  In many cases women sexualize themselves constantly showing off their bodies by objectifying themselves to feel wanted by the male risking losing respect and promoting to youth to believe it is ok to sell sex and unhealthy appearances.  It is important to stand up and promote realistic beauty for the men to conform to, not the women because women have the power and it time that we stand up and stop allowing the media and other sources to sell women in a way that is false and displeasing in society.  The author writes, “thus she turns herself into an object-and most particularly an object of vision: a sight” (Berger 47).  Modern woman will risk her self- respect to get the attention of men through the male gaze putting their worth and value to the side just to be noticed like an object for many generations to see.  Berger suggests, “…thus morally condemning the woman whose nakedness you had depicted for your own pleasure” (51).  The women still will get judge and criticized just to please the viewer, but the male gaze is important to the surveyor if the portrait and or movie is to be seen to please the person in power.

https://genderpressing.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/flipped-images-and-highlighting-the-male-gaze/

Patriarchy described by bell books means both the female and the male needs to be reprogrammed and stop placing limitations on one to distinguish between male and female.  The author mentions, “we need to highlight the role women play in perpetuating and sustaining patriarchal culture so that we recognize patriarchy as a system women and men support equally, even if men receive more rewards from that system” (Bell Books 24).  Patriarchy promotes violence causing the woman to be silenced when faced with the decision conform to allow the male to take the lead.  Bell Books examines, “the point of such violence is usually to reinforce a dominator model, in which the authority figure is deemed ruler over those without power and given the right to maintain that rule through practices of subjugation, subordination, and submission” (24).  For example, boys that play with dolls are deemed for doing so and girls that are interested in playing football are deemed as well in a patriarchal society.  Bell books states, “If patriarchy were truly rewarding to men, the violence and addiction in family life that is so all-pervasive would not exist” (31).   Unconsciously women and men do this to their children and it must stop. Boys should learn to nurture because eventually they may have children and women should be able to do play rough if safe.  It is time to break the silence and restrictions because no one should be more dominate then the other when genders are concerned.  Standing up against gender roles can trickle down to the people in political power to change this “imperialist white-supremacist capitalist patriarchy system”, mentioned in bell books (17).  Women and men can then be free from worry and stress to fit into a society that caters to men because times have changed.