Outside Looking In: Perceptions of Gender and the male gaze in Prison and TV
In modern television, prison has been slowly evolving into a stage for storytelling, which can be a negative trend. Although the usage of prisons gives a new point of view for a marginalized group, the depiction of prisons in television rely on the usage of a WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) in order to convey the struggles of prison life in a somewhat relatable way. This method can add to the shock factor, as they are portrayed as a ‘normal’ person prior to their time in prison and is relatable to the general audience. However, these shows can be perceived to fit the standards of the male gaze, with very little views from the female gaze, or challenging the male gaze. This is shown in Orange is the New Black (OITNB) as Piper assimilates into prison life in a quirky yet hostile environment of being in a minimum security prison, and in Oz as Beecher tries to survive in maximum security prison. Both shows are created under the male gaze based on the views of the perceptions of both genders in prison, with very little critiques/views from the oppositional gaze. To prevent any confusion, I will only analyze the first two seasons of the two shows (since both shows go into deeper exploration the issues within their prisons), the different treatments in maximum security and minimum security prison, and make few comments on the influences/issues from the time the shows aired. With that out of the way, let’s begin.
In modern television, the male gaze has slowly faded into the background as the contemporary feminist movement began to grow. This can be seen in shows like Jane the Virgin and Drop Dead Diva. One would argue that OITNB would fit in the oppositional gaze due to the modern themes discussed mixed with feminist undertones as we see the prisoners fight for basic human rights that have been taken from them after they were sent to prison, like accessibility to education and health care. However, the show is still viewed under the male gaze due to the undertones of the Freudian theory on the pleasure of looking and the human form. In the beginning of OITNB, Piper is viewed as a delicate flower who tried to learn how to survive prison life before surrendering, which backfires in the pilot. As a viewer who has never been to prison and like many others, we can somewhat relate to her naïve behavior as she adjusts to prison life. We follow along, just as Mulvey predicts, curious as to how Piper will slowly be influenced by prison life.
This also alludes to the breakdown of the female fantasy that men have of women, as the focus on Piper and her relationships with Vause and Larry serves as not only a warning, but also a fantasy to men. Many of the sex scenes are somewhat explicit, the viewer sees not only sex scenes, but also female genitalia, masturbation, and nipples. When compared to Oz, many of the gay sex/rape scenes are perceived or alluded, breaking away when things get intense between men but doesn’t do the same for the hetero scenes. One would argue that the platforms are different, OITNB is a part of a stream service, which has more liberties when compared to premium television services in the late 90’s like HBO. However, HBO was broadcasting shows with hetero sex scenes (á la Sex and the City) as viewers follow how the women can have healthy sex lives in the 90’s. But what does all this mean? This could mean that the male gaze has some influence over feminist views, using it to mask to adopt the male spectator.
As we move from OITNB, let’s explore the views in Oz and how the representation of men is like under the male gaze. From the beginning of the series, we know that the show will be extremely violent and somewhat graphic as the show starts with a man getting stabbed in a processing cell. Though the violence is difficult to watch, the vague rape scenes are even more difficult to watch, mainly for the white male audiences. How is this discomfort achieved in a traditionally male genre? Mainly because it clashes with traditional gender norms as female writers that had characters who were open about their emotions rather than their aggression inspired the intimate scenes. This is seen in Beecher’s relationship with Keller, another male inmate that he is emotionally invested in. There are brief moments where the two are vulnerable to each other, which contrasts to Beecher’s relationship with Aryan gang leader Schilinger who only uses him as a sex toy.
Although both shows are compelling in their own way, the male gaze has either been pleased or made uncomfortable. Both shows have used the WASP to show the eventual corruption of one’s personality, but have been used as devices to monitor behavior within the gaze. As viewers peering into an environment that is only known by few, behaviors that are portrayed by Piper and Beecher can only be seen as a way to cope or to survive prison environments.
