Laura Mulvey argues that traditional media representations are dominated by the male gaze, with men in active roles and women in passive, objectified roles. Women are typically shown as sexual objects for male gratification or in stereotypical roles like wives and mothers. However, the Alien franchise challenges these norms with the strong, self-reliant heroine Ellen Ripley. Over time, as women's real-world roles changed, media began to feature more career-driven and empowered female characters, though they still tended to conform to stereotypes or be objectified. Misogyny refers to the contempt or hatred of women and girls.

1. Feminism & The Male Gaze
Laura Mulvey

2. Introduction
• Laura Mulvey – Male Gaze
Influenced by Freud & Jacques Lucan,
Mulvey sees the representation of woman
in film & literature (and therefore society in
general) as being dominated by a male
point of view. Her belief is that the world is
a patriarchy and that men have the ‘active’
roles and woman ‘passive’
To look is seen as active

3. Traditionally
• Men play active roles
which drive the narrative
• Women play passive roles
and are seen as erotic
objects which slow the
narrative
• Men far outnumber women
• Female roles are sidelined
• Lead roles for women
scarce

4. Stereotypes
• Bimbo
• Female’s physical
attractions such as
figure
• Easy
• House wife
• Mother
• Intelligent yet willing
to settle down

5. Male Gaze
• Two distinct modes of the male gaze of this era:
voyeuristic (an obsessive observer of sordid or
sensational subjects) and fetishistic (excessive
attention or attachment to something).
• Mulvey argued that women where given two
characters types - sexually active female &
powerless female
• Films presented images of women that were
produced simply for the gratification of male
viewers
• Various studies in the 1970s found men to be
the dominant characters and decision makers in
film and TV production

6. Importance?
• Where women had important roles they were
far more likely to be shown as…
- frightened
- in need of protection and direction
- offering support to the male lead character(s)
- not independent or self driven
- generally weaker
- still objectified sexually
• “Women, in any fully human form, have almost
completely been left out of film….” L Mulvey

7. Fighting Back
• Ripleys role is reflective of
feminist ideology. Throughout
the Alien series, we see her
character grow, change,
develop and mature to meet
and tackle each situation
placed before her.
• Challenges cultural norms
• Lt Ellen Ripley introduced
viewers to their first self-
reliant and successful
science-fiction heroine
• Ripley encounters difficult
situations which challenge her
femininity
• Still shown as sexual object to
both audience and characters
• She has to fight against the
patriarchal ideology of the
Company, different kinds of male
figures and of course, against the
Alien
• Distinctive references to gender
roles, especially to women's status

8. Changes in society
• As women's roles change so does media
representation. Still objectified but also likely to be…
• Career driven
• Intelligent
• Confident
• Empowered
• Able (violent)
Remember changes may be made cynically and in
order to make money rather than change ideologies
• How many female action stars who are not attractive?

9. A Terminators Feminist
Timeline
• T1 – Sarah Connor is
hysterical, screaming, in
need of rescue
• T2 – Strong, empowered,
able to hold her own
against Arnie
• T3 – We have female
terminator TX (uses
femininity to advantage)
• Terminator: Sarah
Connor chronicles – save
the world

10. A Modern Representation?

11. • Uma Thurman represented as powerful
and dominant and independent
• Adopts male characteristics of aggression
• Not masculinised yet in masculine roles
• Use of low angles, and a masculine
performance

12. • Conforms to Mulvey’s theory - job of seeking
revenge family is given to the female character
thus conforming to stereotypes where women
are seen to be possessed with family and
emotional
• Tight outfit allows objectification
• Voyeuristic pleasures by watching Thurman on
her killing rampage
• Remember male director/industry may still mean
male ideologies

13. Other Examples….
Evidence of the
female gaze?
Vs
Vs

14. Misogyny
• What is it? ….

15. TV Drama Example
• Gene Hunt (TV
Detective from
Life on Mars, set
in 1970’s
Britain) talking
about politics:
'THERE WILL NEVER BE A WOMAN PRIME MINISTER AS LONG AS I
HAVE A HOLE UP MY A**E.'

17. Misogyny
• How would you define the term misogyny based
on what you have just seen?
• Can you think of any other examples of
misogyny that you may have seen in any media
text or simply experienced in everyday life?
• Misogyny – the contempt or hatred of women
and girls

18. H/W Activity
• Watch the first episode of series one of ‘Ashes to Ashes’ (2008, Kudos Productions)
and find examples from the text of misogynistic attitudes & behaviour by referring to
examples from the mise-en-scene (actions & dialogue, setting, props costume/make-
up, lighting, camera angles & framing). Make a table and print it.