I am a woman with privilege, but the eyes of men will always follow me. They’ll always remind me that my body is not my own, that I am being watched constantly. That regardless of what I think, if it doesn’t suit their desires - I am worthless. The gaze that follows me around belonging to a man reminds me that at work ,I am on display, that with my partner I am an accessory to his ensemble. I am never my own through his gaze.

The male gaze sees the woman's body as something that is theirs to watch, to conquer, to own. Women were dressed and designed through the eyes of men in an effort to make women more subtle. For too long, this gaze has interpreted women’s art as sexual and provocative. It claimed rights over women’s work, it claimed rights on their bodies from a distance and up close. The legacies of these women became dependent on the shape of their hips and the way their breasts sit.

So, how do you escape this gaze and liberate yourself from the detriment of the male gaze?

I would say a great start is including these next songs in your “Girls Only” playlist. These four songs represent a variety of styles found within latin/femme music. They promote duality by embodying both femininity and strength.

Nathy Peluso, “Mafiosa”

Nathy Peluso is an Argentinian singer/songwriter who writes songs for girls who have no problem speaking their minds. “Mafiosa” tells men the potential of what they’ll face for their mistreatment of women.

Ms Nina, “La Caprichosa”

Born in Argentina, Ms Nina is sexy and doesn’t care who sees. “La Caprichosa” has a boyfriend in every city and can’t be bothered to remember their names. Their names aren’t important, but that she gets what she wants is.

VILLANO ANTILLANO, “BZRP Session #51”

Villano Antillano is a transgender Latin rapper from Puerto Rico. In her session with BZRP, she reminds you that you couldn’t be on her level if you tried.

Girl Ultra, “Punk”

Girl Ultra from Mexico city is an alt-pop-latin artist. She lets you know there is nothing more ‘punk’ than deciding for yourself who is worth your time. That includes the attention you give to men.

Music has the power to change your mood and your perspective. It works to empower and inspire. The women leading the scene should be applauded for their bravery. The women mentioned above work fearlessly to evoke strength and more than just beauty.

The solution to escaping the male gaze is not by neglecting our beauty, bodies or sexuality. Instead, it's determining what those things mean to us rather than considering how they might make someone else feel.

Written By Eva Maria

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