As we all know, the male gaze is a new term in today’s society and we used to call it gender inequality. Take ancient China as an example. In the traditional power and division of labor model in China, women are in an absolute disadvantaged position, while men possess fame, wealth, and power, so they “gaze” at women from a top-down perspective. With the progress of human civilization, we have all realized that this is a wrong and negative behavior, we must abandon it. So back to the main topic, what is the male gaze and how it influences people’s lives, I want to take a brief discussion on it.
The male gaze is a concept from film theory, first proposed by film critic Laura Mulvey in her 1975 article “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”. This theory refers to the portrayal of women as objects that conform to the aesthetic and desires of male audiences in visual cultural works such as movies, advertisements, and art, thereby reinforcing a male centered viewing perspective. When it comes to the public, it’s widely used to criticize the manifestation of gender inequality and gender stereotypes in visual culture, and extends to the analysis of other forms of media and cultural products. So just as I said, it is not something that is conducive to the stable development of society, but what are its specific manifestations, it’s a good topic to explore.
Actually, I think the influence of male gaze is extensive and profound. It not only shapes gender expression in visual culture, but also has multiple impacts on individuals and society. The most important aspect is the gender inequality. The widespread presence of male gaze in media and advertising puts women at a disadvantage in career development, social status, and power structures, leading to gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace due to the pressure of male gaze, it’s really bad for the working condition. Next I think the male gaze may influence girls’ emotion. Women may internalize the standards of male gaze, leading to dissatisfaction with their bodies and appearance, resulting in damaged self-esteem and mental health issues such as eating disorders, depression and so on. Also, the male gaze will affect social activities. Because male gaze may lead to women being expected to play specific roles in social interactions, limiting their freedom and choices. At the same time, in education, politics, and public life, male gaze may weaken the authority and influence of female voices, which is not conducive to people’s progress. So it’s necessary to criticize male gaze and enhance self-awareness, but how to do that, there are some thoughts of me.
To reduce the impact of male gaze requires multiple efforts, including personal, social and cultural changes. Firstly, I think people have to enhance the level of education. The government can incorporate gender equality courses into the education system, educating students to identify and criticize the phenomenon of male gaze. Similarly, seminars and workshops can be held in society to raise public awareness of stereotypes and male gaze. Secondly, I think strict policies and regulations are necessary. The state can formulate and implement anti discrimination and gender equality laws, and the government and regulatory agencies can supervise and punish media content that spreads gender stereotypes and supports gender inequality speech. The last one I think the personal action is important too. We can constantly engage in self reflection, identify potential gender biases we may hold, and overcome them. At the same time, we can also support female friends through our own actions and words.
To sum up, I believe we need to contribute our efforts to gradually reduce the influence of male gaze and promote a more equal and inclusive social environment and I hope this ideal can be achieved in the near future.
