The male gaze happens everywhere and every time. Loreck suggested that “the ‘gaze’ is a term that describes how viewers engage with visual media. Originating in film theory and criticism in the 1970s, the gaze refers to how we look at visual representations. These include advertisements, television programs and cinema” (2016). Laura Mulvey: Hollywood mainstream films/images are created to reproduce dominant male heteronormative ways of looking; it occurs when the audience is put into the perspective of a heterosexual male (1975).
Mulvey says this “visual pleasure” is baked into the framework of Hollywood cinema. The way shots are composed, the way the camera moves, and the way scenes are edited all reinforce patriarchal power structures and objectify women (2025). Armstrong mentioned five camera techniques that objectify women in film: point of view, framing, camera movement, lighting, and narrative position (2019). Some movies, such as The Wolf of Wall Street, the 007 series, and so on, uses these camera techniques to show the overlooking and sexualization of women from a male perspective, and commodifying depictions of women.
Under the male gaze, women no longer pay attention to themselves but pay more attention to themselves from a male perspective. Let yourself show your best side under the male gaze, and even compete with others of the same sex to get the male gaze.
So when we understand the male gaze, we will gradually pay attention to ourselves, look at ourselves from our own perspective, and appreciate the same sex instead of competing with the same sex.
Reference
Armstrong, C. (2019) The Menkes List: 5 Camera Techniques That Objectify Women In Film. Available at: https://intheirownleague.com/2019/11/05/the-menkes-list-6-camera-techniques-that-objectify-women-in-film/ (Accessed: 29 November 2025)
Khan, S. (2025) Half a century of the ‘male gaze’: why Laura Mulvey’s pioneering theory still resonates today. Available at: https://theconversation.com/half-a-century-of-the-male-gaze-why-laura-mulveys-pioneering-theory-still-resonates-today-256875 (Accessed: 29 November 2025)
Loreck, J. (2016) Explainer: what does the ‘male gaze’ mean, and what about a female gaze? Available at: https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-does-the-male-gaze-mean-and-what-about-a-female-gaze-52486 (Accessed: 29 November 2025)
Mulvey, L. (1975) Visual Pleasure and narrative cinema.
Hey, this was a great read! I love how you delved into the background of where the phrase originated and its historical context. The examples you used were relevant and recognisable, so I was able to immediately understand what you were talking about. The only improvement I would suggest is to delve more deeply into why these examples make sense and where you have observed the male gaze in real life, which would have been really interesting to explore.
Your article is very solid, presenting the concept of the male gaze both clearly and hierarchically. The transition from theory to film examples is very natural, and the quotations are just right. It’s obvious that you have a very detailed understanding of the text. Especially the last paragraph, which brings the theory back to reality and individual experience, makes the article more warm and powerful. This writing style, which combines theoretical depth with a personal perspective, is very mature and highly persuasive.