Final answer:
Seeing women on screen often reflects the pervasive influence of the male gaze and stereotypes in media, leading to limited and polarized roles for women and reinforcing societal norms about beauty and behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Seeing women on screen and in film displays a sense of representation that is complex and often mired in societal norms and stereotypes. According to British film theorist Laura Mulvey, the male gaze characterizes how women are seen and portrayed, with their bodies and appearances being subjected to the evaluative view of men. This is not just in how men view women, but also in how women internalize and view themselves through this external gaze. Moreover, media often positions women in limited and stereotyped roles. For instance, women are commonly shown as wives or mothers in television, with leading roles usually polarized between portraying a saint-like figure or a hypersexualized one.
Research, such as that conducted by Smith in 2008, shows a significant gender imbalance in children's movies where nine out of ten characters were male. Additionally, the portrayal of women in media can reinforce stereotypes that prioritize appearance over skills and disparage women who defy accepted norms. Online avatars and advertising continue to perpetuate a narrow and idealized image of women, which feminist theorists argue further ingrains these harmful stereotypes.