Gender Representation Cont.

Feminism and The Male Gaze:

Male Gaze- Laura Mulvey came up with the idea that the representation of women is dominated by the male point of view. She said that men have the 'active' roles and women 'passive'.

Traditionally:

• men play active roles which drive the narrative
• women tend to play the passive roles and are seen as erotic objects which slow the narrative.
• men far outnumber women
• female roles are sidelined
• they are very few lead roles for women

Stereotypes

• bimbos
• often use physical attractions such as figure and breasts to overpower the male
• easy
• housewife
• mother, maternal
• intelligent yet willing to settle down

Male Gaze

Two distinct models of the male gaze of this era: voyeuristic (you look or watch for sexual pleasure) and fetishistic (all to do with fetishes).

Mulvey argued that women where given two character types - sexually active female & powerless female.

Films presented images of women that were produced simply for the gratification of male viewers.

Where women were seen to have important roles they were more likely to be shown as....

• fightened
• in need of protection and direction
• offering support to the male lead role
• not independent or self driven
• generally weaker
• still objectified sexually

In the Alien series the main lead role was played by a women and she was seen to change, develop and mature to meet and tackle each situation placed before her in the series. This role challenged all the social norms. Although she was the main role she was still seen as a sexual object to both the audience and the characters.

Changes in society

• as women's roles change so does the media repersentaion still objectified but also likely to be...

- Career driven
- Intelligent
- Confident
- Empowered
- Able (violent)

Remember changes may be cynically and in order to make money rather than change ideologies.

Modern representation

Films like Kill Bill, Tomb Raider, Catwomen and Charlies Angels go against normal female roles as they are seen as dangerous killing machines but yet they still have a sexual apperance and use there sexuality to overpower the men.






Misogyny

This is a term used for people who are sexist towards women. It is the hated for women or girls.