The Male Gaze Theory proposes that women are often portrayed as sexual objects in films from the perspective of heterosexual male viewers, focusing on their physical attributes rather than depicting them as complete individuals. It suggests that female characters frequently exist only to complement male characters, having little importance themselves beyond how they make male characters feel or act. The theory argues that media being presented from a male point of view leads women both to be objectified on screen and to internalize objectifying gazes towards other women.
2. The Male Gaze Theory is an idea coined
from modern media. This theory suggests
women are portrayed as sexual objects in a
film rather than individuals.
A scene may focus on the curves of a
woman’s body, putting us, as a viewer, in
the eyes of a male.
3. The presence of a woman in mainstream film
texts is something that is vital.
Often a female character has no real importance
herself, it is how she makes the male feel or act
that is the importance.
The female only exists to compliment the
presence of the male.
4. Mulvey argues for women the result of
media being presented from the
perspective of men and through the male
gaze, women find themselves, at times,
talking of the male gaze.
Women then gaze at other women in the
same way as a man would and thus end
up objectifying other women.
5. With reference to most films
containing both female and male
protagonists, it is confirmed that there
is evidence of female objectification
via male controlled technical
conventions.
