Representation of women in cinema has changed in recent years – but it seems like all of it is too little, too late. Even now when we see women written by or directed by men, they’re treated as props. If not that, they lack personality or are associated with traits that sexualize them. In other cases, they’re so flawed that they need men to save them. That said, women written by women or just explored from a female gaze represents them as people. These women look real, and something most of us relate with.
If we just compare the male and female gaze in cinema, one would notice the difference that an honest understanding brings:
1. On owning their sexuality.
Women are hardly ever associated with sexuality, when they are, it’s not shown properly. A woman masturbating, for example, gets easily presented as something titillating when done by men. The direction of the scene and how it plays out brings a huge difference in trying to convey the intent.
Female Gaze: A scene from Lust Stories 2
Male Gaze: A scene from Thank You For Coming
2. As being lusted on.
When the idea of ‘lust’ is put alongside a female character, films tend to take away their agency. It’s as if even when women want to be lusted on, they cannot control how. Women are not devoid of desires, and being vocal about them doesn’t mean that they’re “asking for it.”
Female Gaze: A scene from Lipstick Under My Burkha
Male Gaze: A scene from Lust Stories 2
3. Writing them as empowered.
These days films are constantly trying to show women with careers, who have a life of their own. This is a good change. However, the male gaze often turns it into a selfish-looking trait. Just the idea of being independent (in all ways) – like men have always been – comes across as selfish when written by men.
Female Gaze: A scene from Piku
Male Gaze: A scene from Veere Di Wedding
4. The rage that comes with womanhood.
Here, the idea is not about glorifying abuse if it’s inflicted by a woman. Darlings is a perfect example that comes to mind, where an intensity of female rage was depicted without glorifying it. The idea that a man can do whatever and the woman would hardly react is exactly how the male gaze sees it. Even if they fight back, there’s no real resolution most times.
Female Gaze: A scene from Darlings
Male Gaze: A scene from Animal
5. When they don’t fit into men’s idea of ‘perfection’.
If a man finds a woman flawed, it’s put on her to ‘change’ herself to his taste – an inherent trait of the male gaze. The normal thing to do is, get rid of the person who doesn’t like you for you, and films need to learn how to do it.
Female Gaze: A scene from Dear Zindagi
Male Gaze: A scene from Main Hoon Na
6. In positions of power.
Somehow, women are shown as glamorous characters even when they’re shown in power. Even a fighting scene is romanticized when male directors show women as strong. For some reason, no one associates them with intelligence or just the ability to fight without a man’s help.
Female Gaze: A scene from Raazi
Male Gaze: A scene from Pathaan
Women are not object of desires, and it’d be nice if male writers and directors start taking notes. It’d be nicer if more women get the chance to create better female characters.
