Expanding the Lens: Is the Male Gaze Still the Whole Story?

You may have heard about Laura Mulvey’s (1975) "male gaze" and how it highlights the objectification of women in visual media. But, as our understanding of gender, race, and identity deepens, it begs the question: is the male gaze still the thing to focus on, or do we need to evolve the conversation?

Mulvey’s point remains valid, especially in mainstream media where women are still sexualized for male pleasure. But when we consider intersections—like race, queerness, class—things get more complicated. Queer and trans bodies, for instance, are either fetishized or erased completely, and this extends beyond just gender dynamics. We also have the white gaze, hetero gaze, class gaze, and cis gaze at play (to name a few), all reinforcing different kinds of power and exclusion.

Does widening the gaze dilute Mulvey’s argument? Not at all. It adds depth to it. In fact, acknowledging these multiple lenses gives us a more authentic understanding of how people experience representation. The "male gaze" might have been the starting point, but now it’s time to recognize that it’s only one part of a much larger picture.

Meme from 30 Rock TV Series

Mulvey, L. (1975). "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema". Screen, 16, 6-18

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