Joy’s focus on the female gaze is rooted in her academic studies at the University of Cologne, where she wrote her master’s thesis on the representation of female sexuality in film.

By 2006, Petra Joy had established a distinct directorial voice. Unlike mainstream productions of the era that often relied on formulaic setups, Joy’s work focused on . Her "Female Fantasies" series sought to prioritize the perspective of the woman, moving away from performance-based athletics and toward genuine intimacy. Key elements of her 2006-era productions included: