To Not to Be Controlled

The male gaze indicates that the gendered dominance of men is represented by forcing the women to be gazed at as objects or what men want them to be. It is not too much to say that most media and popular culture are created based on the male gaze. Media such as film, television, and magazines can affect the formation of standard conception. The images of objectified women have been exposed in popular culture for so long. In many Hollywood films, women are represented as glamorous beautiful white women who need to be protected by white men. The male gaze sorely controls the images in the advertisements and magazines too. In the article of Ways of Seeing, Berger writes that "Women watch themselves being looked at" and women determine how they have to look in a way of men's desire.

Since I was young, every year in the Thanksgiving-like period in my country, major television channels put movies on the screen like 007 series or Indiana Jones. I saw the different sequels of these movies or repeated them over and over again annually. When I was reading the Bell Hook’s article, it reminded me of the women in the 007 series. Before reading this article, I could not even think that it had a connection with the male gaze. All the Bond girls are strong enough to fight, but at the end they always need to be helped by a man . They also are all conventionally attractive and wearing tight clothing which really does not necessary when they fight.

As the number of people who recognize this impact of phallicism of white men increases, some audiences and creators have changed their attitude as a spectator. Their cognition of how women have to be looked at has been transformed and they know that there are many ways to think about and challenge the domination through media, not just enjoy and superficially accept. The oppositional gaze has been created and people started to think critically.

I recently opened my eyes and began to see correctly that there can be various looks for women. I also admitted that I never can be same as the look I admired. I used to put myself into the imsages in the magazine and media, and blaimed myself for looking different from the models or actresses. I still struggle with the stereotypical views of society, but will try to resist it. I do respect feminism and actions that feminists take for their rights. However, I have not yet acted to change society. As Hook’s say, “Not only will I stare. I want my look to change reality.” (Hooks 116), I hope, after finishing this course, to be a person who does not just resist but also take action for.