What’s behind the rise of the female gaze?
REPORT
15 Nov 2022
What’s behind the rise of the female gaze?

The ‘female gaze’ is establishing itself in the mainstream consciousness, as evidenced by TikTok trends parodying stories told from outdated and sexist perspectives. But what exactly defines this concept, and how is it challenging established media narratives around female and nonbinary characters?

Daisy Jones

Daisy Jones is a journalist and editor at Vice. She writes about youth culture, gender, and sexuality. In 2021, she published the nonfiction book All The Things She Said, which explores the nature of 21st-century queerness – particularly the experiences of gay and bi women.

Melanie Iredale

Melanie Iredale is a film curator who has been programming and building audiences for international cinema in the UK since 2005. She has been deputy director of Sheffield DocFest and is now the director of Birds Eye View, improving gender representation in cinema.

Amelia Abraham

Over eight combined years as an editor at VICE, Refinery29 and Dazed, Amelia Abraham commissioned stories, managed teams, shaped branded campaigns and grew audiences. Abraham now works mainly as a freelance copywriter and brand consultant. Recent clients include Nike, Hinge, Royal Mail, Dr Martens, Lyst, and Matches Fashion. Having published two books on queer culture, Queer Intentions (Picador, 2019) and We Can Do Better Than This (Vintage, 2021), Abraham has talked about LGBTQ+ culture everywhere from Sky News to BBC Radio 4 to the Southbank Centre, and regularly delivers LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusion talks for brands.