Feminist Theory

Media Magazine reading

1) What are the two texts the article focuses on?

Pan Am and Beyonce

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

Beyonce - claims to be an 'independent' woman but gives into the male gaze by exposing herself and presenting herself as a 'sex object' on camera.

Pan Am - appeals to the male gaze as it heavily focuses on womens appearance and how they should in order to be considered attractive

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


They show that there is still a need for feminism as women are still being objectified and are still expected to look a certain way in order to be accepted by society and the idea that they are there to please men still exists.

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

Male Gaze – 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.

Post-feminism – An ideology in culture and society that society is somehow past needing feminism and that the attitudes and arguments of feminism are no longer needed.

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

Music video analysis

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

It reinforces the beliefs in society that women should dress and behave in a manner to please men by being a good housewife.

2) Does this video reinforce or challenge the view that women should perform certain roles in society?

It challenges this idea as the video is made to mock this view as the lyrics and over exaggerated performance suggest that even if you conform to all the expectations in society it doesnt define how attractive you are.

3) Would McRobbie view Beyonce as an empowering role model for women? Why?

I think she would view her as empowering as the video mocks and challenges the view that women should perform certain roles in society shows women that they do not have to conform to these expectations.

4) What are your OWN views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ (Mulvey)?

I think that Beyonce empowers women as she uses her fame and platform to inspire others and encourage them to not accept societies expectations and shows how they are unrealistic and are not valid in the real world.