The authors Bell Hooks and John Berger of the Male Gaze and the Oppositional Gaze take an interesting perspective on how women are viewed in art. Both talk about to different perspectives but both share a common theme which is the the way men view women. The authors believe that men view women as objects and objectify them. For centuries, women have been viewed by men and male artist as a piece of meat that are only meant to arouse and satisfy there needs. Many paintings at first did not try to objectify women but captured the beauty of them. In the recent year artist have made paints to satisfy their own pleasures and cause sexual arousal in these paintings. The "gazes" is just one of the numerous examples that proves how men view women as objects and not as equals.
Bell Hooks explains in Oppositional Gaze that since the time men were young boys they have been gazing and analysis women. This has influenced the mainstream media and caused to perceive women a certain way. The media makes women believe that they have to be the skinniest, the prettiest, and with the best features. The media fails to incorporate other type of women like African American women. Our media is only one sided and racist because male influences have the world believe that the perfect women has to be white. Bell Hooks explains that this view has been evident since the time of slavery. Our society taught us that looking at a black women was wrong and being a associated with them is not the correct path. On the other hand white women were viewed and promoted by the media as perfect. Even the laws in place at that time were primary promoting the white women. One of the laws stated that if a black male was caught gazing at a white women he would be punished. This only causes white women to seem like goddess. A Women in her twenties even stated that " ... We are afraid to talk about yourselves as spectators because we have been abused by "the gaze"(Hooks 125). Our society has turned white women in to objects of perfection and ostracized any women that does not look like a white women.
On other had, the Male gaze is it own issue and this refers to the way men view women. In the beginning women were viewed as an art of beauty and many painting reflected as so. But as time went on the "Male Gaze" turned into one of lust and desire. Men started to objectify women and started view them as a piece of meat and many painting reflected as so. Many artist started to paint paintings the cause sexual arousal and made women like sex dolls. Men view women not as equals but as weak and only for the pleasure of men. The author Berger even states " Presence of a women is so intrinsic to her person that men tend to think of it as an almost physical emanation, a kind of heat or smell or aura"(Berger 46). This just shows how men view women and objectify them.
Modern day America is a society run primary by men and women have very little influences besides looking pretty. Our society favors men and has taught us the men should be the one supporting the family. Men have an influence on everything in society including the media that perceive women in the most derogatory way in order to satisfy the male desire. Women are viewed as weak and there only purpose is to take care of the family and keep their husband happy. This common belief is greatly affect due to the influence men have on everything in our society. Man are the one who are viewed as strong, intelligent and worthy. Men have taken control and this has been the mentality for centuries. As Berger writes, “…how a woman appears to a man can determine how she will be treated. To acquire some control over this process, women must contain and interiorize it. That part of a woman’s self which is the surveyor treats the part which is the surveyed so as to demonstrate to others how she would like to be treated” (46). But many women did not take control and dominate instead they appear to be helpless and weak.
Our society is run by men and this is why women are viewed they way they are. This mentality has carried back for centuries and its unlikely for there to be change. In the eyes of men women are objects and not equals. Men objectify them like there pieces of meat when in reality they are not. Women should be viewed as beautiful and graceful and not be objectified.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/regajha/is-miss-america-too-dark-skinned-to-ever-be-crowned-miss-ind
On other had, the Male gaze is it own issue and this refers to the way men view women. In the beginning women were viewed as an art of beauty and many painting reflected as so. But as time went on the "Male Gaze" turned into one of lust and desire. Men started to objectify women and started view them as a piece of meat and many painting reflected as so. Many artist started to paint paintings the cause sexual arousal and made women like sex dolls. Men view women not as equals but as weak and only for the pleasure of men. The author Berger even states " Presence of a women is so intrinsic to her person that men tend to think of it as an almost physical emanation, a kind of heat or smell or aura"(Berger 46). This just shows how men view women and objectify them.
Modern day America is a society run primary by men and women have very little influences besides looking pretty. Our society favors men and has taught us the men should be the one supporting the family. Men have an influence on everything in society including the media that perceive women in the most derogatory way in order to satisfy the male desire. Women are viewed as weak and there only purpose is to take care of the family and keep their husband happy. This common belief is greatly affect due to the influence men have on everything in our society. Man are the one who are viewed as strong, intelligent and worthy. Men have taken control and this has been the mentality for centuries. As Berger writes, “…how a woman appears to a man can determine how she will be treated. To acquire some control over this process, women must contain and interiorize it. That part of a woman’s self which is the surveyor treats the part which is the surveyed so as to demonstrate to others how she would like to be treated” (46). But many women did not take control and dominate instead they appear to be helpless and weak.
Our society is run by men and this is why women are viewed they way they are. This mentality has carried back for centuries and its unlikely for there to be change. In the eyes of men women are objects and not equals. Men objectify them like there pieces of meat when in reality they are not. Women should be viewed as beautiful and graceful and not be objectified.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/regajha/is-miss-america-too-dark-skinned-to-ever-be-crowned-miss-ind
great job posting this link!!! .... this clearly shows how America stereotypes women and its beauty, nowadays. They forgot we are are a melting pot with people who come from all different parts of the world to make this nation stronger.
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