Gender Theories

Images of females used by media present females as sex objects (Wolf)

Men can also be portrayed as objects of sexual desire (Gamman and Marshment)

The four types of Masculinities:
- Hegemonic (most powerful - top of society)
- Complicit (second most powerful)
- Subordinate (least power)
- Marginalised (just about subordinate)

Hegemonic:
- Hegemonic masculinity refers to the dominant form of masculinity within the gender hierarchy.
- Hegemonic  masculinity is associated with "white males", heterosexual, marriage, authority and physical toughness.

Complicit:
- Men in society who do not themselves live up to the ideal of hegemonic masculinity (follow trends)

Subordinate:
- Subordinate masculinity is defined by and in opposition to hegemonic masculinity in a society (binary opposite)
- Homosexuality as a common example of a subordinate masculinity.

Marginalised:
- These could be based on ethnic, religious or racial identifications.
- They are marginalised in that their interests are perspectives are often not taken into consideration by the dominant culture.



The Male Gaze: Laura Mulvey (1975)
"As erotic objects of desire for the characters within the screen story, and as erotic objects of sexual desire for the spectator within the auditorium"
- The look of the camera
- The looks of the male character
- The looks which originate from the male spectator which imitate the other two constructed gazes