A Problem For Humankind

As a man, I have never notice the the portrayal of women as a thing to satisfy mens needs. In western culture, women have been painted, filmed, and photographed as sexual objects. Why? Because it is usually men who are the ones behind the painting, filming, and photographing. I assumed it was just the way things were done. Yet, the more I dig, the more I see there is a whole patriarchal system that keep women underneath men.

Olympia by Monet 1832-1883

Something that stems from this system is the Male Gaze. The male gaze is, "which refers to the lens through which mostly white, heterosexual men are viewing the world, is a lens of entitlement. It's entitlement to all of the privileges awarded to gazers, entitlement to view women (and even to touch them!), and to discuss and exploit their bodies without consequence" (4 Ways To Challenge The Male Gaze, Lueptow). This is not a new concept at all. It goes way back in history. In the early ages, most painters were white males.  They painted women as sexual objects. The women in these photos were always painted as if they were there to please the spectator, also mostly white males, and that was their only purpose. John Berger, author of Ways of Seeing, writes, "She is not naked as she is. She is naked as the spectator sees her." Women are seen laying down and in relaxed positions because the spectator needs to feel empowered. If they are showing any type of dominance or power the spectator will not enjoy the painting. Another reason why women were painted this way is not many women were giving the advantages males were, especially when it came to art. First of, women were not considered citizens so any property technically belong to the husband. They were not taken seriously by their male counterparts. Lastly, if a women did have an amazing piece, she most likely signed it in a male name so her artwork will be accepted in society and receive the recognition it deserves. 

A Model posing for the cover a Esquire

This is all caused by a patriarchal system. Patriarchy is a system of society where the family or government is led by a man usual the father or the eldest male is in charge. This is the root to a lot of problems. Women are usually told what to do and how to act by males. Women never had real power according to history. They were told how to act, how to dress, what to wear, what to do, basically how to live life. They never had the benefits a man did. However, as problematic as patriarchy is for women it is also very problematic for men. I know, another male turning a problem women have had since the beginning of the human race into a male problem. Hear me out. Not only does this patriarchal system program women to do certain things, it programs men to continue to push this propaganda to the future generations. Bell Hooks, the author of A Will to Change, writes "Patriarchy is the most life-threatening social disease assaulting the male body and spirit in our nation. Yet most men do not use the word 'patriarchy' in everyday life. Most men never think about patriarchy - what it means, how it is created and sustained. Many men in out nation would not be able to spell the word or pronounce it correctly." Men are being brainwashed by this social norm. This hurts women in the long run. 

In today's society, there is still a patriarchal system and the male gaze continues to be a big problem. In society they're are certain standards women must meet to be acceptable in society. Women must meet this requirements for them to be accepted or to seem "normal". A reason for this being a part of the culture today is because of big companies marketing the "perfect women". It is usually a petite women with a perfect body, clear skin, and even then, the models are edited in photoshop to look more unrealistic. This can also cause an affect women might have when looking at other women in magazines and such called the female gaze. Female gaze is when the spectator is a women and has her own expectations of the object being viewed or herself. For example, women might see a model and think thats what she must look like to be accepted and/or acknowledged. Again, big companies feed on this. The continue the system to sell their products and market them as things necessary for  women to have in their lives. Patriarchy is a disease in today's society. It as reason why women are still in a world where they cannot be equal to their counterparts. The "male gaze" continues to put expectations on women that are almost impossible to meet. When will it get better?


                                                                Work Cited

Hooks, Bell. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love. Washington Square Press, 2005.

Berger, John, and Michael Dibb. Ways of Seeing: Based on the BBC Television Series Directed by             Michael Dibb. British Broadcasting Corporation, 2008.

Lueptow, Kelsey. “4 Ways To Challenge The Male Gaze.” Everyday Feminism, 30 Sept. 2016, everydayfeminism.com/2013/05/changing-male-gaze/.