Feminist Theory-blog task
1) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)?
The first example of the male gaze in the article is Pan Am, which is a period drama set in the sixties. In the opening sequence,there is a long shot, slow motion of the female characters that causes the male characters to turn and stare at the women. The other example is Beyonce who has the persona of an independent women but this is contradicted as she objectifies herself for the camera and the male gaze. In her music video of 'Why don't you love me' she humorously parodies the typical 'housewife', she does this in 'sexy' outfits that would grab the attention of the male gaze, thus objectifying herself.
2) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?
These texts remind audiences that sexism still exists even though Pan Am is set in the sixties audiences can recognise that aspects of sexism in Pan Am still exist today. The same with Beyonce's music video which is a parody of a 1950s houswife, yet there is still everyday sexism in forms like the male gaze.
3) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.
Feminism- A movement aimed at defining,establishing,and defending women's rights and equality to men.
Patriarchy- An ideology that places men in a dominant position over women.
Post-feminism – An ideology in culture and society that society is somehow past needing feminism and that the attitudes and arguments of feminism are no longer needed.
1) How does the writer suggest gender performativity is established from a young age?
The article suggests that parents establish gender performativity so early in the child's life in simple ways such as the clothing they wear in terms of the colours and the slogans on them. This teaches girls to be caring,passive and responsible of the happiness of others whilst letting boys do what they went no matter how disruptive it is because it is cute and roguish.
2) What does the phrase 'non-binary' refer to and how does it link to Butler's theory?
The phrase non-binary refers to someone who doesn't want to define themselves as wholly male or wholly female. This term is increasingly common usage especially in the younger generation. This links to Butler's theory as the younger generation are rejecting culturally and socially constructed gender roles by using gender neutral pronouns.
3) How and why does the media help reinforce gender stereotypes? The writer provides several examples in the final section of the article.
Gender roles and stereotypes are reinforced in the media when women are presented as inferior to men. The mainstream media relies on this as it is easier for the audience to understand story lines as they are already fixed in the audiences minds.
1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?
This contributes to Butler's idea that gender roles are a performance. In the music video Beyonce is parodying the typical housewife roles like cooking,cleaning,ironing etc. This may be due to the fact that we are conditioned to adhere to gender roles even from a young age. This suggests that some of the roles she is doing in the video is a performance because those are acts/patterns that women are taught to repeat.
2) What might van Zoonen suggest regarding the representation of women in this video?
Zoonen would argue that in the video Beyonce seems to be objectified as she wears 'sexy outfits' in benefit of the male gaze. He would also say that she is restricted to secondary roles that make her seem inferior to men lie cooking and cleaning.She is framed differently to emphasise and accentuate her body to be objectified .
3) What are YOUR views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ and oppression of women
I think in a way she is empowering women to make them realise that doing the things that society says will attract a man to women like cooking and cleaning is wrong and need to stop restricting themselves into these roles. Evidently in the video she is doing all the right things yet asking herself 'why don't yo love me?'. However you could argue that she is reinforcing the traditional 'male gaze' as she objectifies herself by wearing 'sexy outfits' and winking at the camera.
1) How does the video suggest representations of masculinity have changed in recent years?
The video suggests that representations of masculinity have changed as Will Jay rejects the typical masculine roles that have been constructed by society. He shows that what was expected of men before like being tall,strong, and being the breadwinner do not apply to today's society and shows that the representation of masculinity has changed in recent years.
2) What does David Gauntlett suggest about representations of men in the media over the last 20 years?
Gauntlett disagrees that masculinity is crisis. This could be argued as people like Will Jay are challenging the traditional representations of men and masculinity and that it is changing.
3) What is YOUR view on the representation of men and masculinity? Are young men still under pressure from the media to act or behave in a certain way?
I think the representation of men as masculine will always be expected to some extent by society and the media. Although,some media influencers and media sources are challenging this i think that just as it will take a long time to combat everyday sexism changing the representation of masculinity will take a long time.
The first example of the male gaze in the article is Pan Am, which is a period drama set in the sixties. In the opening sequence,there is a long shot, slow motion of the female characters that causes the male characters to turn and stare at the women. The other example is Beyonce who has the persona of an independent women but this is contradicted as she objectifies herself for the camera and the male gaze. In her music video of 'Why don't you love me' she humorously parodies the typical 'housewife', she does this in 'sexy' outfits that would grab the attention of the male gaze, thus objectifying herself.
2) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?
These texts remind audiences that sexism still exists even though Pan Am is set in the sixties audiences can recognise that aspects of sexism in Pan Am still exist today. The same with Beyonce's music video which is a parody of a 1950s houswife, yet there is still everyday sexism in forms like the male gaze.
3) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.
Feminism- A movement aimed at defining,establishing,and defending women's rights and equality to men.
Patriarchy- An ideology that places men in a dominant position over women.
Post-feminism – An ideology in culture and society that society is somehow past needing feminism and that the attitudes and arguments of feminism are no longer needed.
1) How does the writer suggest gender performativity is established from a young age?
The article suggests that parents establish gender performativity so early in the child's life in simple ways such as the clothing they wear in terms of the colours and the slogans on them. This teaches girls to be caring,passive and responsible of the happiness of others whilst letting boys do what they went no matter how disruptive it is because it is cute and roguish.
2) What does the phrase 'non-binary' refer to and how does it link to Butler's theory?
The phrase non-binary refers to someone who doesn't want to define themselves as wholly male or wholly female. This term is increasingly common usage especially in the younger generation. This links to Butler's theory as the younger generation are rejecting culturally and socially constructed gender roles by using gender neutral pronouns.
3) How and why does the media help reinforce gender stereotypes? The writer provides several examples in the final section of the article.
Gender roles and stereotypes are reinforced in the media when women are presented as inferior to men. The mainstream media relies on this as it is easier for the audience to understand story lines as they are already fixed in the audiences minds.
1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?
This contributes to Butler's idea that gender roles are a performance. In the music video Beyonce is parodying the typical housewife roles like cooking,cleaning,ironing etc. This may be due to the fact that we are conditioned to adhere to gender roles even from a young age. This suggests that some of the roles she is doing in the video is a performance because those are acts/patterns that women are taught to repeat.
2) What might van Zoonen suggest regarding the representation of women in this video?
Zoonen would argue that in the video Beyonce seems to be objectified as she wears 'sexy outfits' in benefit of the male gaze. He would also say that she is restricted to secondary roles that make her seem inferior to men lie cooking and cleaning.She is framed differently to emphasise and accentuate her body to be objectified .
3) What are YOUR views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ and oppression of women
I think in a way she is empowering women to make them realise that doing the things that society says will attract a man to women like cooking and cleaning is wrong and need to stop restricting themselves into these roles. Evidently in the video she is doing all the right things yet asking herself 'why don't yo love me?'. However you could argue that she is reinforcing the traditional 'male gaze' as she objectifies herself by wearing 'sexy outfits' and winking at the camera.
1) How does the video suggest representations of masculinity have changed in recent years?
The video suggests that representations of masculinity have changed as Will Jay rejects the typical masculine roles that have been constructed by society. He shows that what was expected of men before like being tall,strong, and being the breadwinner do not apply to today's society and shows that the representation of masculinity has changed in recent years.
2) What does David Gauntlett suggest about representations of men in the media over the last 20 years?
Gauntlett disagrees that masculinity is crisis. This could be argued as people like Will Jay are challenging the traditional representations of men and masculinity and that it is changing.
3) What is YOUR view on the representation of men and masculinity? Are young men still under pressure from the media to act or behave in a certain way?
I think the representation of men as masculine will always be expected to some extent by society and the media. Although,some media influencers and media sources are challenging this i think that just as it will take a long time to combat everyday sexism changing the representation of masculinity will take a long time.
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