Consider your typical day, where you might be scrolling through social media, or flipping through a magazine. You see an image of a woman - fragmented, posed, and perfected. Her body rather than her presence takes centre stage.
Whilst captivated by this artistry, a question arises... Who is this image really for?
In a world where the male gaze is beginning to be called out, it is a silent force shaping how we view women in the media. Whether it is through the delicate framing of a leg or the glow of a topless figure, the male gaze invites viewers to see women not as individuals, but as objects of desire.
Li Hui (@huiuh_) is a Chinese photographer known for her expressive imagery, which delves into themes of youth, nature, and intimacy. A graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2003, she began her photographic journey in 2009 upon receiving her first film camera. Li Hui's work, distinguished by a mastery of light and a taste for double exposure techniques, has a dreamlike quality. Her photographs often feature anonymous subjects and focus on the subtleties of human nature.
Based in Shanghai, Li Hui's art has been showcased in various exhibitions across China, the United States, and Europe. Her unique perspective has significantly contributed to contemporary photography. Her work offers a nuanced exploration of human emotion and the transient beauty of everyday moments, a perspective that intrigues and captivates art enthusiasts.
Firstly, what is the male gaze? Film theorist Laura Mulvey introduced this concept in her 1975 essay, "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema." The essay discusses how visual art and media often portray women from a masculine, heterosexual perspective. This perspective reduces women to objects of male desire, framing their existence as being for the pleasure of men rather than depicting them as independent, autonomous individuals.
The male gaze creates a power dynamic where men are active spectators and women are passive subjects. This viewpoint is rooted in patriarchal structures that often link women's value to their physical appearance and adherence to societal beauty standards. Society usually reduces women's worth to how closely they conform to beauty ideals, reinforcing their role as objects of desire for male consumption. For example, women in advertisements are portrayed in sexualised, passive poses that emphasise their bodies, with little regard for their individuality. This objectification positions women in an inferior role, suggesting their importance lies in their physical appearance.
The silent image of woman still tied to her place as bearer of meaning, not maker of meaning.
The male gaze not only shapes how women are represented in media but affects how women perceive themselves. As they encounter these images that prioritise beauty, many women internalise this perspective, viewing themselves through how others might see them. This can lead to body dissatisfaction and reduced self-esteem; as seen on social media, women often feel pressured to conform to beauty standards for social approval. The constant focus on appearance can contribute to mental health issues like anxiety and body dysmorphia, illustrating how the male gaze shapes both superficial representations and inner self-perception.
Although society has made significant strides towards gender equality, the male gaze remains highly relevant today. The media we consume, social media or photography, reflects a remaining bias. Li Hui's photography captures broken-down parts of the female body: legs opened wearing sportswear, thighs partially illuminated by light, and a topless torso obscured by colour. From a male gaze point of view, these compositions dehumanise the subject by prioritising body parts over individuality, fitting into the aesthetic mould.
The male gaze has shifted from traditional media to digital platforms in contemporary society. Often, social media algorithms prioritise content that garners attention, favouring hypersexualised or idealised portrayals of women. This reinforces an environment where women are objectified for likes, shares, and views. A study conducted by Hatton and Trautner (2011) reveals that sexualised portrayals of women have increased over time, with female subjects more likely than males to appear in suggestive poses or attire.
A female audience may resonate with this topic because the male gaze affects how one views the world. Many women have experienced moments when they felt reduced to their physical appearance, exacerbated by media and cultural norms. The Mental Health Foundation found that 37% of UK adults feel worried or unhappy about how they look, with women being more affected than men.
However, women may find empowerment in discussing these representations. Awareness of the male gaze enables women to critique and resist it. Feminist movements in art and media production have challenged traditional portrayals of women, creating space for more diverse and authentic representations.
For example, photographers who embrace the female gaze actively work to subvert this. The female gaze focuses on capturing women in their full humanity, exploring themes like identity, strength, and vulnerability on their terms. Initiatives like this can inspire women to reclaim their narratives, transforming the lens through which they are viewed.
It is said that analysing pleasure, or beauty, destroys it.
Analysing these photographs in the context of the masculine gaze allows us to reflect on broader societal issues. While these pictures are artistic and harmless, they may demonstrate how the media continues to interpret women through an objectifying perspective. Recognising these trends is a step towards changing the media landscape so women are valued as individuals rather than their bodies.
