Unmasking the male gaze and its effects on female students: case study of Makerere University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the different ways through which the demanding male gaze affects female students of Makerere University. The study adopted an exploratory and qualitative case study design of research to collect primary and secondary data. The methodology used was qualitative research methodology. The sample comprised of 84 students (65 female students and 19 male students) taken through an in-depth study, 17 students in two different Focus Group Discussions, 6 key Informants interviewed and 5 students observed. The male gaze was found to be evidenced at the University by the attitude men have towards women in the way of commenting on and judging the female students’ dressing, presentation and appearance in public. Men present an unending list of expectations on female students to suit their own desires. This control places female students in a lower status and objectifies them to suit men’s desires. The objectifying male gaze is particularly harmful to female students on campus. The male gaze was found to portray the desire to sexually own the woman’s body and set a pace to own the woman’s body by demanding that the body be presented in the way the men want it to be presented to them Although the male gaze had negative effects it also gave power to women over men. The female students used the male gaze to insert power over men to achieve academic success by bargaining and negotiating academic and financial support. The female gaze was not uncommon among the female students on campus. Some female students did not care what men’s interest was in the way of their presentation but rather presented themselves for their own satisfaction. The study recommends that male students be engaged to discuss concepts like the male gaze that hinder the progress of female students. Dialogues on sexuality should be regularly organised by the student’s guild and the Gender mainstreaming directorate to address the negative effects of the male gaze.