ABSTRACT
The presentation of the male body (of the hero), previously discussed, is inextricably bound up with the corresponding presentation of the female body. It is the hero-centricity — phallo-centricity, to be precise — that defi nes the nature and dictates the use of the female body. Accordingly, the female body is depicted as male-dependent and used to actualise and reinforce the male supremacy, being granted at the same time certain degree of ‘licence to be female’ (as distinct from the male) insofar as the ‘licence’ does not pose a threat to male centrality.
