During our class discussion on Spelman’s “Gender and Race:
The Ampersand Problem in Feminist Thought,” I began to think about the way that
Black women are viewed in American society. It seems, as Spelman suggests, that
Black women are often placed in a category separate from that of “women” or “Black.”
I began to look at some of the representations of Black women on television, in
music, and to a lesser extent in literature (since these seem to be the most
broadly consumed media).
I came across an article suggesting that Black women are
most often represented in one of three categories: Mammy, Jezebel, or Sapphire.
Mammy characters are the motherly caretakers; Jezebel characters are the overly
sexual and/or promiscuous types; Sapphire characters are depicted as loud, overbearing,
and hostile. I found it very difficult
to find characters that did not meet these stereotypes, even in media created
by and for Black audiences (think Tyler Perry’s Madea characters).
These stereotypes go beyond the radio or the television
screen. I have had numerous conversations with family and friends about the
effects of these stereotypes. One of the most interesting insights that have
stemmed from these discussions has been in regards to Black women and marriage.
Marriage rates, while on the decline in general, have even further declining
among Black women (according to BET News). Some of my father’s friends have
suggested that the “Sapphire” stereotype is difficult to avoid, making many
Black women undesirable candidates for marriage. While I can’t say that any of
the Black women that I know fulfill these stereotypes to the core, the fact
that some people feel that Black women do is problematic.
These classifications of Black women seem to be unique from the
stereotypes of women and of Black men, though they do hold some similarities. (White)
Women are often stereotyped as caregivers and Black people (men) are often
highly sexualized. Black women take on the worst stereotypes of the two groups.
So I wonder, why is it that Black women are not placed in the categories “Black”
and “woman” when they are expected to take on the negative aspects of both? Why do these stereotypes seem to hold more weight
when discussing Black women?
It's hard to say why these stereotypes have continued over so many years and why black women bear the weight of both being highly sexualized or viewed as solely a caregiver. I think it is part of the majority creating an "other." Men other women be restricting them as caregivers and white people "other" black women as highly sexualized. A simple analysis of slavery can explain where these ideas came from. Black slaves were used sexually and as sexual objects, whether it was for sexual desire or as a way to increase the slave population. It is crazy that these ideas have translated into modern culture today.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to say why these stereotypes have continued over so many years and why black women bear the weight of both being highly sexualized or viewed as solely a caregiver. I think it is part of the majority creating an "other." Men other women be restricting them as caregivers and white people "other" black women as highly sexualized. A simple analysis of slavery can explain where these ideas came from. Black slaves were used sexually and as sexual objects, whether it was for sexual desire or as a way to increase the slave population. It is crazy that these ideas have translated into modern culture today.
ReplyDeleteThe stereotypes associated with black women are pre-slavery. They can be traced back to the original European gaze on African women, which resulted in a distorted view of black female physical characterists from a racist and sexist perspective. (i.e. Sara Bartmann). I think we seriously underestimate the weight and pressure that society puts on black women, as far as negative assumptions about who black women are. Although there are far and few role models (Michelle Obama) there are many more people assuming the stereotype (Nicki Minaj, most of the black women in hip hop videos etc etc etc). In our class discussion yesterday when we were talking about Limbaugh and his comments about the young woman Sandra, I was suprised nobody brought up the discussion of black women and the welfare queen stereotype. Alot of the argument about birth control and women who "just can't keep their legs closed" is aimed at black women, even though its not explicitly stated. Our culture has a stereotype that black women produce more babies than they can care for and then rely on the government to take care of them, even though this is statistically false and culturally, well, just plain old fashioned racist. I think many of our discussions about "proper womanhood" have undertones of racialized sexism targeted and the un-women in our society, those who happen to be black and female.
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