By Ayanna Smith
Art by Maddy Best

If you type “male gaze” into the search bar on Twitter or TikTok, you’ll be met with thousands of hot takes on the issue. From videos questioning whether a new TV show really gives depth to the female protagonist to explanations of why a beloved 90s film is actually super misogynistic, they all call for more media that showcases the female gaze. Let’s dive into what that means.

You know the male gaze when you see it. It’s when a female character’s purpose is to pleasure the male protagonist. We barely know anything about her or her objectives, she’s just there to help the protagonist achieve his goals. Take most of the James Bond movies as an easy example of this: his female co-stars are often objectified and seen as passive helpers.