On ways of seeing/viewing

The male gaze is the audience view from a man's perspective.  History has shown us that the male gaze has been prioritized ever since the 1800's.  During these ages several nudes were painted to illustrate women in a vulnerable state in which she expresses nothing but a gaze towards the spectator in this case the male viewer.  The only thing women offered was to satisfy the viewer therefore she lacked of any emotion.  As John Berger Way of seeing describes "this nakedness, is not, however, an expression of her own feelings; it is a sign of her submission to the owners feelings and demands".  The male gaze is not only restricted to the male but women as well in a sense is a participant.  Berger simplifies this by saying "Men look at women.  Women watch themselves being looked at."  This statement greatly portrays the relationship women have among each other and how the male gaze has some involvement in this interaction.  Today's beauty contests are a mere example of women competing to engage and satisfy the viewer, in this case the judges who are more likely to be male.

  The male gaze is a pervasive form of vision in popular culture because this way of thinking has been part of humanity ever since the first days. The male persona is glorified and given power while women are put in this position of compliance and acceptance from the moment we are born.  Bell Hooks describes it as "Patriarchal gender roles are assigned to us as children and we are give continual guidance about the ways we can best fulfill these roles".  Not only are male to blame but women "can be as wedded to patriarchal thinking and action as men".  An example that hits close to home is about how girls are given dolls while boys are given Lego's or are allowed to play outside.  From an early age girls learn to be more communicative and expressive while boys become more spatially aware and take more leadership roles.  This is the reason why men are more prone to excel in mathematics.  The mother will frown upon a boy that will play with dolls and will correct that behavior.  

The "Oppositional Gaze" is a protest against the white supremacist capitalist imperialist.  It is the voice of the minority.  As Bell Hook looks back at the history of slavery and how many were punished for simply looking, she gives and insight of how "all attempts to repress...produced in us an overwhelming longing to look, a rebellious desire, an oppositional gaze".  She realized that although whites were to blame for this repression it was not exclusive to them because she was pained to recognize that it occurred among black communities.  Blacks were critical about issues with race and racism but lacked to consider gender.  This oppositional gaze its a declaration that "not only will I stare, I want my look to change reality".  That is its key purpose, its not only meant to defy the opposition but in some form or way to transform the world around us.

   An example of this oppositional gaze in which black females share their struggle for subjectivity is shown in Sanfocca's Passion of Remembrance.  In this film two black females attempt to change the old norm and disrupt sexist and racist portrayal of black female bodies.  Now a days many women are coming out and addressing this strong desire for subjectivity.  A short film was shared on facebook of women in Hollywood being interviewed "11 Empowering Messages to Young Women from the Oscars Red Carpet"  The common view of all these actresses and women that are part of the media was to be yourself and "do not let any institution define who you are"
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=593409397470145&fref=nf

I have come to understand this structure as part of our world.  It is present on the daily basis and it is hard to scape.  Although it is undeniable it is our duty to observe, interpret and make our own conclusion.  Liberating ourselves from patriarchal norms and fighting with an "Oppositional Gaze" will guarantee that the following generations will continue to do so.  As of now our generation is very attuned to change.  This very differently than that of older generations.  For example the recent feature of a plus size woman for their Sports Illustrator magazine.  This is a great breakthrough because what was consider to be appealing is changing with time and impossible beauty standards are changing.  

Work Cited 

Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. Britain: British Broadcasting Company and Penguin Books, 1972.

Hooks, Bell. “The Oppositional Gaze.” Black Looks: Race and Representation. Boston: South End Press, 1992. 115-31.

Hooks, Bell "Understanding Patriarchy" The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love.
Washington Square Press, Dec 21, 2004.