After struggling to come up with a research-able concept, I have found my Case Study topic. I plan to ground my analysis of the impact on the male gaze on female sexuality and identity through an investigation of the speculum. While I plan to consider the origin of the speculum and the gynecological practices predating modern times, I will focus on the radical feminist movement in the 70s and the effort to Take Back the Speculum. As the speculum has controversial roots in a time period where women’s health and sexuality were strongly neglected and oppressed, in the 70s, the women’s liberation movement encouraged women to use a speculum on themselves to become more comfortable with their bodies and remove the control of their genitals and genital health from men. While the act symbolically wrestled the speculum out of the hands of dominating, male gynecologists, it also reflects the women’s ability to reclaim their own image out of the view of men. Women are defined by themselves, not the multitude of men that are encouraged to stare.
Annotated Bibliography
Berger, John, director. The Ways of Seeing (Episode 2). British Broadcasting Corporation, 1972.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZR06JJWaJM
- In “The Ways of Seeing,” John Berger discusses how women view themselves through the male gaze. Through mirrors and classical art, Berger investigates the many ways women are objectified for the male viewer, either by themselves or by portrayals of themselves by photographers and artists. This was published in 1972, so it acts as a primary source of the new discussions regarding women’s liberation in the 70s by employing historical analysis of previous presentations of women. However, due to its date of publication, it lacks a historical view and analysis of the movement in the 70s.
“Vulva Mapping: An Experiential Guide to the Universe between Your Legs.” Foria Wellness, Foria Wellness, 22 Aug. 2018, http://www.foriawellness.com/blogs/learn/vulva-mapping-guide-to-female-sexual-anatomy.
- https://www.foriawellness.com/blogs/learn/vulva-mapping-guide-to-female-sexual-anatomy
- This Foria Wellness Article, “Vulva Mapping: An Experiential Guide to the Universe between Your Legs,” illustrates, encourages, and instructs women to explore their genitals and to become comfortable with this physical aspect of their sexuality. The article intentionally refers to medical and non-medical terminology to include all women in this educational and empowering experience. This article frames itself by referencing the Take Back the Speculum movement from the 70s and recreating the exploratory process. While not a primary source, this article clearly describes the intimate details of an encounter in the 70s as well as indicates the progress society has made since that time. This article successfully illustrates the experience for the modern woman who never attended such an event and provides experiential context on why this may be an empowering act even without the historical context.
Boston Women’s Health Collective. Women and Their Bodies: a Course. New England Free Press, 1970.
- https://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/cms/assets/uploads/2014/04/Women-and-Their-Bodies-1970.pdf
- “Women and Their Bodies: a Course” was the first publication of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” and is an educational piece on women’s sexual health and advice on women’s experiences like relationships, sexuality, pregnancy, abortions, and the medical profession. Half factual and informational and half anecdotal, the Boston Women’s Health Collective created this educational and accessible resource for women to advise them in health issues and normalize the experience of being a woman in a patriarchal society. Knowledge is power, and by educating women about their bodies and healthy expectations on how to be treated, they empowered women. They are often credited with founding the movement for women to Take Back the Speculum and examine their own bodies. This is a valuable resource since it documents the beginning of a powerful movement, although it certainly goes beyond the scope of this case study in its ~150 pages.
(Also whoops I finished this on Thursday and forgot to post until I began editing for this weekend’s revisions. Finally got it up though!)
Sofia Devin 