Nathaniel Saint-Germain
Professor Caçoilo
Art and Women
12 February 2019
Since the beginning of time, women have mostly been seen as inferior to men. Whether it be through skill, physical or emotional strength, et cetera, the female population has been seen as lesser when compared to the rest of the population. There has always been this negative connotation, which society allows, that the idea of women being submissive or accepting the idea that their different viewpoints are based on their actions. These gender roles and stereotypes have arisen as a byproduct of the overwhelming patriarchal influence experienced in western society throughout the last few centuries. We see this in John Berger’s “Way of Seeing,” where he explains the image and expectations they had to deal with in relation to the male gaze. According to Berger, the male gaze is the way a man can have the right to judge how feminine a women is due to the way she presents herself to the world. Moreover, the male gaze is seen as a way of looking at women in such a way that it empowers the ego of men and objectifies women as sexual beings.
“From earliest childhood she has been taught and persuaded to survey herself continually” (Berger 46), which explicitly explains how it is instilled in women to start thinking and behaving in a specific manner so that men will one day be able to accept as beautiful, attractive, or sexy. They begin to conform and compete to sometimes unattainable standards of beauty and gender roles in order to be perceived as the ideal woman. Our society today does nothing to destabilize or dismantle this issue. Women are seen on television and social media portraying sometimes unrealistic body goals where if you have the biggest assets and the smallest waist, you will be vixen--more attractive to others based on the socialized norm. The extent to which some women go to achieve these “body goals” become dangerous to their health at a certain extent and in some cases causes psychological harm. Women have been known to starve themselves, workout to the point where their muscles deteriorate and even go through surgical procedures in order to conform. The magazines, movies, and even most of the modeling agency makes it a requirement that you look a certain way to be beautiful. Then, they put you on a pedestal not for your intelligence or the various talents you may be able to portray, but to showcase looks that fit into the male gaze.
This idea became evident in early art when the women in paintings began holding mirrors. “The real function of the mirror was otherwise. It was to make the woman connive in treating herself as, first and foremost, a sight” (Berger 51). Mirrors were being used as a way for the women to validate themselves for the male population. They would not be trying to impress themselves, but focused on men’s view of them. This again highlights the fact that women should be highlighted for their capabilities rather their appearance.
Nowadays, more women, and some men, are looking for change. People are finally voicing their opinions on the female life. Feminists are fighting for increased equality between men and women, liberty of sexuality, and other ideas that go against gender notions. Ultimately, they are fighting patriarchy--”a social system that consists of males inherently dominating” (Hooks 18). A great example of this is written in Bell Hooks “Understanding Patriarchy” where she identifies the issues of genders learning at a young age and having set roles. “We force them [boys] to feel pain and deny feelings (Hooks 22) which is an epidemic that we instilled in our new generations time and time again. Men are raised to be stoic, strong leaders of their families. They are not to show emotions and the only emotion it is acceptable to let out is anger. It is seen as being “soft or sensitive if that is the case. Within the female gaze, men are to be seen in this aspect and shows true character.
Apps, such as Instagram, Snapchat, and many more, have adapted to be the new mainstream form to attract the male gaze. Instagram updates ever so often to add features and filters to help females make the ‘right’ photo all based on the society’s standards of looking attractive. The filters range in terms of adjustment. They can adjust the shape and size of a woman’s eyes, extend her eyelashes and even sharpen her jawline. Although the tactics for celebrating the the ideal female have become more subtle, they are still major influences on the male gaze just as much as the female psyche. As long as society remains patriarchal the male gaze will motivate the action of women whether it is conscious or subconscious. As unrealistic as some of these ideologies may be, they will still continue to thrive.
“From earliest childhood she has been taught and persuaded to survey herself continually” (Berger 46), which explicitly explains how it is instilled in women to start thinking and behaving in a specific manner so that men will one day be able to accept as beautiful, attractive, or sexy. They begin to conform and compete to sometimes unattainable standards of beauty and gender roles in order to be perceived as the ideal woman. Our society today does nothing to destabilize or dismantle this issue. Women are seen on television and social media portraying sometimes unrealistic body goals where if you have the biggest assets and the smallest waist, you will be vixen--more attractive to others based on the socialized norm. The extent to which some women go to achieve these “body goals” become dangerous to their health at a certain extent and in some cases causes psychological harm. Women have been known to starve themselves, workout to the point where their muscles deteriorate and even go through surgical procedures in order to conform. The magazines, movies, and even most of the modeling agency makes it a requirement that you look a certain way to be beautiful. Then, they put you on a pedestal not for your intelligence or the various talents you may be able to portray, but to showcase looks that fit into the male gaze.
This idea became evident in early art when the women in paintings began holding mirrors. “The real function of the mirror was otherwise. It was to make the woman connive in treating herself as, first and foremost, a sight” (Berger 51). Mirrors were being used as a way for the women to validate themselves for the male population. They would not be trying to impress themselves, but focused on men’s view of them. This again highlights the fact that women should be highlighted for their capabilities rather their appearance.
Nowadays, more women, and some men, are looking for change. People are finally voicing their opinions on the female life. Feminists are fighting for increased equality between men and women, liberty of sexuality, and other ideas that go against gender notions. Ultimately, they are fighting patriarchy--”a social system that consists of males inherently dominating” (Hooks 18). A great example of this is written in Bell Hooks “Understanding Patriarchy” where she identifies the issues of genders learning at a young age and having set roles. “We force them [boys] to feel pain and deny feelings (Hooks 22) which is an epidemic that we instilled in our new generations time and time again. Men are raised to be stoic, strong leaders of their families. They are not to show emotions and the only emotion it is acceptable to let out is anger. It is seen as being “soft or sensitive if that is the case. Within the female gaze, men are to be seen in this aspect and shows true character.
Apps, such as Instagram, Snapchat, and many more, have adapted to be the new mainstream form to attract the male gaze. Instagram updates ever so often to add features and filters to help females make the ‘right’ photo all based on the society’s standards of looking attractive. The filters range in terms of adjustment. They can adjust the shape and size of a woman’s eyes, extend her eyelashes and even sharpen her jawline. Although the tactics for celebrating the the ideal female have become more subtle, they are still major influences on the male gaze just as much as the female psyche. As long as society remains patriarchal the male gaze will motivate the action of women whether it is conscious or subconscious. As unrealistic as some of these ideologies may be, they will still continue to thrive.
Works Cited
Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. London: British Broadcasting Corporation and Penguin Books. 1972. Print.
Hooks, Bell. Understanding Patriarchy. Louisville Anarchist Federation Federation, 2010.
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