Research: Laura Mulvey

Laura Mulvey's theory rebels against the fifties 'perfect house wife' expectation that women will be passive, submissive, have an hourglass figure and that she must be sexy for her man. The theory was devised in the late sixties/early seventies. Mulvey rejected the idea that men were dominant in society, and did not want a patriarchal society. She proposed that women 'de-gender' themselves of sexuality and femininity in order to bring about the post feminist society. This consisted of both genders having legal equality, and that women could be confident and happy with their bodies. They could use their sexuality and femininity for themselves and play it to their advantage. 


Mulvey said that male characters in film were seen as the protagonists, and they were represented as active participants in order to drive the narrative forward. She said that female characters were shown as passive, and would respond to the the actions of the male characters. Mulvey was angry that females had been fetishized and objectified by the cameras (male gaze)  and believed that the Hollywood industry was controlled by men. 

Opposition & Representation of Gender

Men;
Strong (Muscles)
Charismatic (Leadership)
Sexual Confidence
Good sexual performer
Fighter
Handsome - Rugged but not 'pretty' as the audience can't identify with this, and want to avoid homo-eroticism
Intelligent/Cunning
Commanding/Leaders

Women;Weak (Vulnerable)
Indecisive
Shy/Passive recipient
Inexperienced
Watches & Screams --> Obstacle
Hot/Beautiful/Stacked
Shallow/Dumb/Clueless

A strong female;
Butch (Muscles) --> 'Lesbian' stereotype
Demanding/Bossy
Sluttish/Promiscuous
Uses sex for power and to dominate men
Fighting fetishized --> Elements of S&M/Bondage
Hot/Beautiful/Stacked
Intelligent/Manipulative

Strong male attributes in a women are represented negatively and are typically characteristics attributed to antagonists as women are seen as weak, and should fulfil the 'princess' role.

Male GazeMulvey proposed that the camera angles could be used to fetishize the female body
parts, which would sexualise them and objectify them in film. She believes Hollywood is guilty of objectifying women and making it acceptable for men to look at women in this way, and it is therefore responsible for lots of gender stereotyping. By doing this the women (and women in general) are objectified; the male gaze would cause them to
not be represented as a person, but as an object. Her theory is that males in the cinema get to voyeuristically objectify and look at a woman in a way that is socially acceptable.