The female gaze …
A success on the screen, but one that has not transferred all too well onto our smaller screens. The term originates in film theory, countering ‘male gaze’ cinema and the objectification of women that follows. But on social media, the female gaze appears to morph into its misogynistic predecessor, used to rank women based on appearance, judging and objectifying them just as before.
This disturbing similarity highlights the deep-rooted and often subconscious nature of the male gaze — and it seems that women are not immune to its powers, either. To take a thoroughly reasoned concept in feminist film theory and reduce it to what it aims to combat, trivialises the term. The idea of the ‘female gaze’ sets a false standard of empowerment, and arguably pits women against each other once more.
Understanding the ‘Female Gaze’
Feminist film theorist, Laura Mulvey, first brought the term ‘male gaze’ to the scene in her 1975 essay ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.’ Mulvey remarked that a woman on screen was simply put there to display a ‘to-be-looked-at-ness,’ for the predominantly heterosexual cis-male eye. As she explains: ‘the determining male gaze projects its phantasy onto the female figure.’ A relatively recent example of the male gaze comes from the Netflix miniseries ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ (2020). In particular, a heavily criticised scene shows the protagonist, Beth Harmon, who is supposed to be at her lowest, with shaved legs, her hair and make-up smartly done, dancing around in skimpy underwear. Many women have, quite rightly, pointed out how incredibly unrealistic this scenario is when one is having a breakdown.
Fifty years on, and the female gaze has made itself known within the film world, paving the way for a new age of empowering cinema. The female gaze, essentially, shows women through the eyes of women. It brings real women to the screen for more than the purpose of satisfying the male gaze. A brilliant example of this is Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird (2017). A coming-of-age story that gives audiences a more realistic portrayal of a teenage girl, where the girl’s story, rather than her body, is the focus.
Transitioning to Social Media
‘Do you dress for the male gaze or female gaze?’
‘Are you written by a man or written by a woman?’
‘Are you male gaze pretty or female gaze pretty?’
The terms female and male gaze have gained a firm footing on social media, becoming sources of certain trends. But the terms are still used aesthetically, in a way that judges a woman’s appearance, whether that be her dress sense, make-up, hairstyle or certain mannerisms of her character. Those who fit the female gaze category are put on a pedestal. They receive online support and praise for matching an aesthetic that supposedly seeks to establish empowerment, suggesting that these women have somehow ‘transcended’ the male gaze.
Certain defining features of the male gaze category encompass figure-hugging clothing, alongside light, natural-looking makeup. Whereas the female gaze category includes looser, or more ‘experimental,’ clothing, with darker, smokier makeup.
The catch is, these categories are by no means gospel, and the looks change from one gaze to another. For example, there are posts where natural makeup and tight clothing fall under the female gaze, whilst darker makeup and loose, ‘modest’ clothing fit more with the male gaze.
And it’s not just women. These terms have been applied to compare male looks, real and fictional. But, man or woman, the notion of a female gaze is being used incorrectly, and pulls focus from the feminist objective.
Recycling Objectification
By comparing women’s appearances, but praising only one type, the other (the male gaze woman) is subtly criticised for how she looks. Not only is this comparison harmful, by putting women in competition with each other and ranking certain looks above others, but it also ignores the purpose of having a female gaze as a breakaway concept.
This narrow and insistent focus on appearances objectifies women all over again — exactly what feminist film theorists set out to change. Social media has done little more than set yet another beauty standard. This standard tells women how to be an authentic woman, how to dress for women, how to be real, be natural, and how to become a real woman. It also wages an accusatory finger at those women who continue to dress and act for the male gaze, implying that it’s their fault for failing to become real women.
Admittedly, the social media trend has emerged with the intention of supporting the female gaze in film theory. But the problem lies in the method of its support. Reducing women to their appearance and castigating them for how they look is neither empowering nor feminist. This method offers no solution but only perpetuates a familiar problem. One reason for its existence comes down to ingrained patriarchal mindsets that have infected women and society as a whole. It appears that even when we try our hardest to repair the damage, we are tricked into reinforcing it by other means.
The Power of Feminist Theory
One way to get ourselves out of this rut is to learn! Read feminist theory to understand the origin and true meaning of certain terms. Train yourself to recognise the subtleties of objectification and how often women are put down by other women. When you spot it, speak out and set the tone for a healthier conversation. Fighting societal objectification of women is an uphill battle that requires an understanding of the enemy — often our own selves. But we can win the war if we retrain our subconscious. Maybe then, we can finally know what it’s like to be authentic, real, and woman.
DISCLAIMER: The articles on our website are not endorsed by, or the opinions of Shout Out UK (SOUK), but exclusively the views of the author.
Calypso Lloyd-Davies
Freelance journalist specialising in women's rights, contemporary culture and the arts.
