Feminist theory - blog tasks

1) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)?

The gaze referring to Laura Mulvey’s seminal article ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’ which argues that main stream Hollywood films subject female characters to the ‘male gaze’ of the camera, fragmenting and objectifying their bodies.

2) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?

Both of them reinforce sexisms and typical stereotypes 

3) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.

Third wave feminism – Was a movement that redefined and encouraged women to be dominant and sexually assertive.

Nostalgia – A sentimental longing for the past, often only remembering the positives of the time.

Feminism – A movement aimed at defining, establishing, and defending women’s rights and equality to men.

Now read The Theory Drop: Gender Performativity (MM69, page 25) and answer the following questions.

1) How does the writer suggest gender performativity is established from a young age?

It’s ingrained at such a young age that we often mistake t as ‘nature’ rather than ‘nurture’. In

short, having male genitalia has no bearing on whether or not you like cars, nor does having a womb make you obsessed with unicorns and mermaids.

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 define themselves as either wholly male or female, is increasingly in common usage. This links to Butler's as she doesn't believe people are born as a gender they need to make their own choice and chose what they want to be 

3) How and why does the media help reinforce gender stereotypes? The writer provides several examples in the final section of the article.

The mainstream media relies on gender stereotypes for other reasons, mostly as a shortcut to meaning. Narratives are easier for audiences to understand if the characters, subjects and storylines conform to a set of ideas that are already fixed in our heads from an early age.

Watch the Beyonce video for ‘Why Don’t You Love Me?’ again: 

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?

This video shows a women which isn't that clothed and is seen as sexy this can reinforce the stereotypical views portrayed on women. There is also a clip of her cleaning which reinforces the stereotype of women

2) What might van Zoonen suggest regarding the representation of women in this video?

Beyonce is sexualised through clothing and movement this is reinforcing the stereotype of women and how they are portrayed 

3) What are YOUR views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ and oppression of women? 

She reinforces the male gaze this is because she does stereotypical things which are pressured on women. She sexualises herself which makes the male gaze more dominate 

Watch Will Jay's video for ‘Gangsta’ again:



1) How does the video suggest representations of masculinity have changed in recent years?

This subverts masculinity as it says you don't need to be strong and powerful to be a man you just need to be your own person and love others 

2) What does David Gauntlett suggest about representations of men in the media over the last 20 years?

That masculinity is a crisis happening and men don't know how to act themselves 

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?

Young men are still under pressure as they see big men with a muscular body figure and believe that you have to have that body to be a man. They also believe that you can't be scared and you have to fight your way to get something. The media reinforces this with the algorithm they send out.