'Male gaze' in the mini-series 'Queen's Gambit'

Abstract

The patriarchal system is based on the idea of phallocentrism, in which phallus, or male sexual organ, represents the central element in the organization of society. In such a system, a woman is perceived through her lack of phallus by which she symbolizes the threat of castration, or in other words, castration anxiety. The gender difference, defined by this deficiency, is used to establish a system in which a woman is subordinate to men. As such, a woman is the subject of a controlling "male gaze." Using the theoretical framework set by Laura Mulvey in her essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Film," this paper shows how the "male gaze" influences the construction of female characters in contemporary cinematography. The example used for this analysis is the series Queen's Gambit, which was well received by the feminist audience, despite the fact that the main character was adjusted on various levels to serve the requirements of the "male gaze." Additionally, part of the paper will analyze harmful stereotypes through which racial and sexual minorities are presented in the series and point out how the film industry shapes social norms and lifestyles through the normalization of such models.