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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Unveiling The Gaze: Belly Dance As A Site Of Refuge, Re-Envisioning And Resistance, Angela Moe
Unveiling The Gaze: Belly Dance As A Site Of Refuge, Re-Envisioning And Resistance, Angela Moe
Angela M. Moe
Central to studies of feminist theory and pop culture is the construct of the male gaze, which highlights and challenges imagery within various forums (e.g., film, media, art) that relegate women to a stereotypically aesthetic purpose. In other words, analyses of the male gaze question why it is that women are so often portrayed in overly sexualized ways, as if they are only objects to be considered and consumed by others (namely, heterosexual men). This construct was first developed by Laura Mulvey in her influential 1975 essay “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”. What was unique about Mulvey’s analysis is that …
Healing Through Movement: The Benefits Of Belly Dance For Gendered Victimization, Angela Moe
Healing Through Movement: The Benefits Of Belly Dance For Gendered Victimization, Angela Moe
Angela M. Moe
Perceptions of “belly dance” are that it is degrading, exploitive, and incongruous to feminism. Curiously, however, the dance is incredibly popular in various parts of the world, including the United States, as a form of recreation and creative expression. This paper examines the apparent disconnect between public perception and practitioner standpoint. Findings indicate a strong holistic healing component, particularly in terms of gendered interpersonal victimization, where belly dance seems to hold potential for self-exploration and discovery. Grounded historically, culturally and empirically, these findings are discussed in terms of their application to social work practice as it relates to alternative therapies.