Exploring Gender Bias through Mulvey's Male Gaze Theory

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According to Mulvey, the male gaze emphasizes the objectification of women as sex objects by spreading the idea of "Men doing the looking and women being there instead be looked at" then normalizes the scopophilia (or peeping tom). This theory presents gender bias by asserting men in active roles a passion for saving, sexing and inspiring the passive woman because women only possess power through their sexuality. Visually confined to on-screen submission the subjection of females annihilates the threat they may possess. In doing so, the concept of gendered thinking determined as ignored when the female gaze is not recognized as possessing the same structures as the male gaze. When the opposition (female gaze) gaze presents itself, the audience …show more content…

The shift from housewife to working woman presents effect to distance the power difference between Bridget and Don. While Bridget's initial goal is to gain enough income to stabilize her household, it becomes the decision she makes independently (without husband's consent) to steal money that makes her the breadwinner, therefore more superior than her husband. The film further exemplifies gender thinking as Bridget becomes the first person to establish a successful scheme to outsmart the government out of undocumented revenue; inside and outside the bank. Being the mastermind of the operation, she withholds most of the power over everybody in the scheme. It is her greed that puts everyone in this situation of distress, and it is her greed that convinces everyone to stay in the plot (6 months after the ploy). The depiction of lust for larceny advocates the active role of female presence in the film. Bridget's age remains her most significant advantage against the system because she looked at as non-threating; she can operate her plan smoothly. The stereotypes generated from the male gaze, therefore, do not contribute to her foils but benefit her revenue and her loved

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