Unraveling the masquerade: Hyperfeminine bodies, the male gaze, and gender identity in 21st century Brazil

The following thesis is an in-depth analysis of the extent to which the male gaze constructs female identity in 21st century Brazilian society. In the light of post-modern discourse, the concept of gender identity has been hotly debated and deconstructed, leading to the conclusion that there is nothing inherently natural about gender; it is instead the byproduct of social, cultural, political, and economic factors. The following thesis analyzes the ways in which feminine identity is crafted through the powerful impact of the male gaze, biopower through the media, and voyeuristic desire. Through an in-depth analysis of two case studies − one focusing on the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and another one on Brazilian magazine covers − the thesis assesses the extent to which the male gaze impacts feminine identity in 21st century Brazilian society. The main findings suggest that feminine identity in Brazil is created and reaffirmed through the male gaze and voyeuristic pleasure, as...Show moreThe following thesis is an in-depth analysis of the extent to which the male gaze constructs female identity in 21st century Brazilian society. In the light of post-modern discourse, the concept of gender identity has been hotly debated and deconstructed, leading to the conclusion that there is nothing inherently natural about gender; it is instead the byproduct of social, cultural, political, and economic factors. The following thesis analyzes the ways in which feminine identity is crafted through the powerful impact of the male gaze, biopower through the media, and voyeuristic desire. Through an in-depth analysis of two case studies − one focusing on the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and another one on Brazilian magazine covers − the thesis assesses the extent to which the male gaze impacts feminine identity in 21st century Brazilian society. The main findings suggest that feminine identity in Brazil is created and reaffirmed through the male gaze and voyeuristic pleasure, as exemplified by events such as the carnival in Rio as well as an analysis of Brazilian magazine covers. The thesis concludes that the male gaze and biopower have repercussions on gender norms in Brazilian society, as they present feminine and masculine identities in oppositional terms, thus reinforcing them as separate categories: masculine as active and feminine as passive.Show less

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Unraveling the masquerade: Hyperfeminine bodies, the male gaze, and gender identity in 21st century Brazil