The concept of the male gaze has been a prominent topic of discussion in feminist theory, media studies, and cultural studies for several decades. Coined by feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey in her influential 1975 essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema," the male gaze refers to the way in which visual media perpetuates and reinforces a patriarchal perspective that objectifies and sexualizes women. I, the male gaze is often more complex and insidious than it may initially appear, as it can take on various forms and be disguised in a variety of ways. Y One particularly intriguing phenomenon related to the male gaze is the masquerade of the male gaze. This refers to instances in which the male gaze is obscured or hidden behind a facade, making it more difficult to detect and critique. For example, in media texts that appear to cater to a female audience, such as romantic comedies or reality television shows targeted at women, the male gaze may st...
The Paradox of Progress: Breastfeeding Practices Among Educated Women in Kashmir This comprehensive analysis examines the complex landscape of breastfeeding practices in Kashmir, where increasing education levels and healthcare access have paradoxically coincided with declining breastfeeding duration—especially among educated women. Drawing from recent research by Government Medical College Srinagar involving 1,293 mothers across Jammu (n=680), Kashmir (n=512), and Ladakh (n=101), we identify a troubling trend: 75% of educated women do not breastfeed for extended periods, while 25% have adopted packaged milk substitutes for newborns. Despite high breastfeeding initiation rates (55% within one hour post-birth), exclusive breastfeeding at six months remains at only 50%. Through examining socioeconomic, structural, and commercial determinants, this article proposes multisectoral interventions to realign policy with physiological and cultural imperatives. 01: The Kashmiri Cont...