The Ethics of Looking And The "Harmless" Peeping Tom

It’s often said that cinema,

by it's very nature, is voyeuristic,

because film offers the audience a window

into the hidden lives of others.

Watching people’s stories on the big

and small screen can indeed be

fascinating and exhilarating.

But the act of looking can also feel

uncomfortable, invasive, even violating.

Underpinning these uncomfortable moments

we can find some alarming messages

about the role of consent.

To explain, let’s start here

in the normal bedroom of a normal boy

doing normal boy stuff.

Normal stuff

like spying on the girl next door.

Popular culture is filled

with scenes like this one

Scenes in which one character,

usually a man

spies on another character,

usually a woman

without that person’s knowledge or consent

To be clear, we're talking about secret

surveillance of a person

while they're alone

in various states of undress

or engaged in sexual activity.

This is invasive looking

that violates a person's

reasonable expectation of privacy.

In a staggering number of movies

and tv shows, this type of spying

isn't done by the villain.

It is instead perpetrated

by "nice guy" characters.

"Slow down, baby"

These are straight men, who are otherwise

presented as decent.

Or, at the very least,

mostly harmless.

"Hey! Hey!"

This media patern is so prevasive,

I thought it needed a name.

"He's a peeping Tom!"

So I call it "The harmless peeping Tom".

"You know, it occurs to me,

that you can see right into Donna's house

from my driveway."

"You don't say"

(off-screen laughter)

All of the boys on "That 70s Show"

for instance, casually participate

in spying behavior.

"No, Anette! Not the robe!"

(off-screen laughter)

"Quick, somebody yell

'pillow fight' in a girl voice"

But the character of Fez

is the quintessential example

of a harmless peeping Tom.

(off-screen laughter)
- "Oh my god, Fez!"

"Nice honkers!"

(off-screen laughter)

"Get out of here!"

"Fez?"

There's a years long running gag

about how he's always spying on women.

Often hiding in their bedroom closets.

"Oh my god, did you see anything?"

"Not much,

you should really think about

a nightlight."

And yet this pattern of intrusive behavior

is just considered a minor

nuisance on the show.