4 minute read
Dress to Impress (Yourself
ELIMINATING THE MALE GAZE FROM OUR PERSONAL STYLES Written and modeled by Manon Bushong, Fashion Editor Photographed by Molly Jacobs
Imet a cashier the other day who had arguably the coolest hairstyle I had ever seen. Scattered throughout her buzzed and bleached hair were little red hearts. When I complimented her, she was happy to hear a stranger’s praise, and told me that earlier that day, her grandmother’s initial reaction to her new hairdo was “What does your boyfriend think about that?”
Why does it matter if her boyfriend, or any other man for that matter, disapproves of her hair? It made me think of other times I heard friends worry that a fun hair color could frighten away potential romantic partners, which led me to reflect on whether I had ever felt self-conscious about an outfit based on patriarchal fashion standards. Are men actually bothered by women with blue hair and unorthodox fashion? Or do these fears stem from years of being conditioned to view nearly everything through the male gaze? The male gaze is a concept coined by Laura Mulvey, originally used in the domain of cinematography, the male gaze analyzes how women in film are frequently viewed and created through the lens of a man.1 Oftentimes, this leads to characters centered around aesthetics rather than the woman’s depth or equal nature. This theory extends beyond cinematography and has unfortunately become a critical way in which many women view themselves. Catering the way we look and act around how we feel men perceive us is mentally damaging, and
¹ Well, Tara, “Taking Back the Male Gaze”, Psychology Today, November 6, 2017.
can also subconsciously cause us to hold back when deciding what to wear each day. Many norms in terms of women’s fashion are created to make women look the most appealing in the eyes of men. Form-fitting clothes that accentuate a feminine silhouette are much more popular than “unflattering” oversized or loose shapes. The theory of the male gaze explains why women put so much emphasis on having an hourglass figure because they are conditioned to believe that their body — especially in terms of how a man may perceive it in an aesthetic sense — determines their self-worth. Fashion, whether or not we realize it, has become a tool to further this concept. In order to truly feel good in one’s skin, the person we should all be dressing for is ourself. Clothes we think look cool and feel comfortable in should come before clothes that flatter our bodies according to societal standards. Throughout high school and continuing into my early months as a college student, I frequently held back when choosing clothing in an attempt to minimize judgment from my peers. I suppose looking back on it now, there was a considerable part of me that thought if I did rock cool vintage leather pants or a bubblegum pink fur vest, I would repel teenage boys and minimize my chances at getting a prom date. When I did however begin wearing pieces that I truly loved which also represented me, I noticed a rise in my confidence each time I left the house. You do not need to be a fashion guru to dress for yourself. The key is to not let fear of judgment affect your choices or to spend too much time pondering over how your look will be perceived. If you think an article of clothing is cool, wear it. The confidence will follow.
Drifting from the male gaze when making fashion decisions does not mean you can’t wear flirty or sexy clothing by any means. In fact, adopting a mindset that departs from the male gaze will allow you to feel freer in revealing garments because you won’t stress over whether you look trashy, slutty or unprofessional. These harmful terms have been instilled in us from a young age, and are a result of centuries of scrutiny and patriarchal control over women. Low-cut shirts and tight dresses do not determine a woman’s drive or ability in an academic or professional setting. There is no one way to dress in a means that defies the male gaze. Start off by questioning what is stopping you from wearing a piece of clothing that you like. Are you worried it is too over the top? Do you feel it does not flatter your body? Feeling comfortable in your clothes is certainly a big aspect of dressing for yourself; however, I urge everyone to ask themselves what is truly causing them to feel uncomfortable in particular garments. Freeing yourself from the male gaze will alleviate stress each morning when it is time to choose a look, and it will help you truly dress for yourself! ■
