The hyper-sexuality of Black women in slavery comes as no surprise. It was used as a tactic to justify the sexual practices between slave and master. To Whites, the Black woman had a sexual appetite that could not be fulfilled by Black men. Therefore, it was the White man’s job to satisfy her. They used this excuse to justify the rape and seduction of slave women.
Ever since Madame C.J. Walker became a millionaire selling hair and beauty products it became clear that black women felt the need to tweak themselves to feel attractive. Hair had to be straighter and skin lighter, blacks have been brainwashed by the images of Europeans and what they considered to be beautiful. After hundreds of years of being told they were inferior and being raped and beaten it’s hard not to believe it. The film, “The Soul of Black Girls”, candidly showed how these thoughts are still embedded in the minds of African-American women today.
That's exactly what Madonna attempts to do when she appropriates and commodifies aspects of black culture. Needless to say this kind of fascination is a threat. It endangers. Perhaps that is why so many of the grown black women I spoke with about Madonna had no interest in her as a cultural icon and said things like, "The bitch can't even sing." It was only among young black females that I could find die-hard Madonna fans.
Blaxploitation movies provided alternative images of the African American woman that were neither the ‘Mammy’ of films like Gone With the Wind (1939), or the ‘exotic other’ of Carmen Jones (1954). But they were reminiscent of other stereotypes that have haunted black femininity since slavery. One of these stereotypes is most commonly known as the ‘Jezebel.’ Depicted as alluringly seductive, she uses her beauty to lure men into her bed almost against their will. Next, there is the ‘Sapphire,’ the wisecracking, stubborn, emasculating woman. She lets everyone know she’s in charge.
Ethics are principles reflecting the values of a society, Kanazawa has manipulated Black woman, as well the black culture. All women Black, White, Asian, and Native American should “all” be equally treated. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Kanazawa has used attractiveness based on photographs. They’re marked differences of physical attractiveness among woman of different races.
Effects of the Media on African American Women Being an African American woman I have had firsthand experience on how the media has portrayed both an unconstructive and encouraging image of us. African American Women casted, in too roles to play as characters in the movies as well as on television are more often than not portrayed in an unflattering roles. All women have been stereotyped in one way or another, but African American Women have been stereotyped by other races as well as our own. Now in these recent years we have been breaking down barriers showing everyone that African American Women are not what you think we are we are better. Unfortunately there are a great deal of troublesome images that are being shown about women in the African American community that has absorbed into their psychological mind.
Blue Eyed Discrimination has been a major issue in society for a long time, ever since the first white settlers, the settlers discriminated against American Indians and the first black slaves brought over from Africa. Discrimination is defined as unfair treatment of different categories of people based on their gender, race, age or physical characteristics over which they have no control. Discrimination occurs when one category of people think that they are superior to other categories of people in society. Discrimination is the focus of Jane Elliot’s blue eyed brown eyed exercise which is featured in Bertman Verhaags documentary blue eyed (1996). In the documentary Jane Elliot focuses on discrimination against women, homosexuals and mostly against African Americans and how society is biased to suit the oppressors.
1.05 English 3 Ain’t I a Woman? Being a black or white woman in the 19th century were two very different things because of the way that they were treated. Black women were mostly slaves and didn’t have even close to the rights that white women had, such as the right to go back to school or keep your own children. Black women were basically treated like less than dirt, which was a horrible horrible thing. And this isn’t even just about black women, it’s all women in general and how our rights were taken away.
And, in most cases they are seen as property and mere objects to men. The article “Where My Girls At? : Negotiating Black Womanhood in Music Videos” by Rana Emerson focuses on the present-day issue that many black woman are facing in the music industry. Her center of attention was to prove and “identify how music videos exhibit and reproduce the stereotypical notions of black womanhood faced by you black females,” and in addition she “discusses the ways that black woman performers use music videos” for sexist philosophy. Emerson proves her argument by composing her own study with the use of theoretical sampling.
J.R.L. Dr. v Possessing the Secret of Joy There is a brutal tradition, for the African Olinka tribe, that involves genital mutilation of the women's clitoris. This is the overall reason that causes Tashi to give in to a life of madness and corruption. It is not surprising though, that the women are the only ones needed to be genitally mutilated, because throughout history, women are frequently taken advantage of. Gender Roles plays a huge part of the novel, Possessing the Secret of Joy, by showing the reader how women are treated unfairly and what this treatment can cause to the women.