The Male Gaze (Laura Mulvey)

The Male Gaze, a concept introduced by Laura Mulvey, describes how visual media often presents women from a male perspective, portraying them as objects of male desire. This perspective shapes how women are depicted—emphasizing their appearance and making them seem passive or meant for male viewing— reinforcing gender power dynamics. It influences audiences to see women through a heterosexual male lens, shaping societal attitudes about gender and sexuality, and impacting how women are represented and perceived in films, TV, and advertising.