Men In Control
"The man controls the film fantasy and also emerges as the representative of power" (Kaplan). The male holds the power and controls the gaze of the audience, even in Girl On A Motorcycle, a film about a woman breaking free of the traditional female role by riding her motorcyle. The motorcycle, her mode of transportation, was controlled by a man. Her lover bought the motorcyle for her to come visit him. He maintained his control over her through his gift of the motorcycle.
Phallocentrism is characteristic of patriarchical systems which regard men as central and normal. This film embodies phallocentrism. The very fact that a woman is riding a motorcycle is regarded as abnormal in the film. A motorcycle is powerful and fast, which is normal for a man to use. Throughout the film, the camera focuses in on different parts of her body, causing the audience to focus on her body. Another way the male gaze is maintained is by having the audience look at a man, looking at her body. For example, the man at the gas station stares at her backside and we are staring at the man. The scene when Daniel squeezes her neck is a clear example of male dominance and power in the film. It showed that he was stronger and could hurt her. I think her comment near the end of the film sums the theme up well. She says, "I have no identity". Women are not liberated through this film. Women are shown that they remain in control of men, even when under the illusion of having freedom while on the road.