Male Gaze

Male gaze refers to the way media, society, and culture are built around the visual pleasure of heterosexual men. It positions women as objects designed to be desired and consumed.

Internalized surveillance

The moment a girl starts puberty, she is taught to view herself through a man’s eyes. A woman’s body becomes a project, such as something to be maintained, slimmed down, covered up, or exposed, depending on what the male audience demands. Even when men aren’t around, the gaze lingers. It becomes internalized. A woman doesn’t exist without considering how she appears.