The male gaze in the film Mean Girls

Extract

[...] The male gaze in the film Mean Girls Mean Girls SUMMARY Introduction Mean Girls is a 2004 American teen comedy, starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, and Amanda Seyfried. The plot focuses on a naïve teenage girl navigating her way through the social hierarchy of a modern American high school after years of her parents homeschooling her while conducting research in Africa. The sexualization of women's bodies and the male gaze noticeable in the characters' appearance → Regina's quest for a ‘Barbie Doll' body The film sexualizes Regina also known as "Queen Bee", the high school idol whose popularity is based exclusively on her beauty and her selfimage. [...]

[...] → the “burn book” in which every girl in the school is torn apart for her physical appearance • men are at the core of women's plotlines • the film also encourages spectators to regard women as men would, for pleasure • it tells female viewers that as long as they linked to a man's pleasure, they will be happy and important → womanhood is depicted as depending on appearance and attractiveness, and especially not intelligence, and as a competition to grab male attention Little conclusion The film offers especially incisive commentary on the social pressures that teenage girls face. The way the popular girls are presented in this movie could make other girls feel like they are worthless, creating an antifeminist effect from the movie, which could have a negative impact. Thank you for you attention. Do you have any questions? [...]

[...] → The mirror scene The Plastics stand in front of a mirror and pick apart their physical appearance. → the Christmas dance scene The Plastics get on stage in red patent outfits as Mrs. Claus costumes and dance inappropriately in front of students, teachers and parents as part of the high school talent show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h81UO jlFmMs&ab_channel=XOXO (0:30-0:45) → sexualization in the media II) The elaboration of womanhood according to the male gaze, and the representation of women's personalities →focus on their actions and behaviors →their personalities are almost removed to make room for their looks • Intelligence is seen as undesirable and unnecessary in order to stand out and rule in this teenage social hierarchy. [...]