Being a black woman in this society and seeing how sexism is the number one seller in this society makes it really hard for Mclune (2015). Mclune (2015) discusses “Notes of a Hip Hop Head” by Kevin Powell stating “Socioeconomic” is the reason for the sexism in the hip hop field and it is a way to keep the black females quiet (p.222). Kevin Powell states “But just as it was unfair to demonize men of color in the 1960’s solely as wild-eyed radicals when what they wanted, amidst their fury, was a little freedom and a little power...” (Mclune, 2015, p. 221-222). Mclune (2015) clarifies that Powell completely overlooks that females also have a hard life and an insufficiency, yet they still have to overlook the objectification that black men bring to the table. Even though sexism is not the answer, it will always sell no matter
With these definitions, I feel that both words with their meanings truly expose what bell hooks is telling us what Americans, and it seems she talks about the black male Americans, think of the black female culture. In ‘Gangsta Culture…’ bell hooks tells us that the ‘patriarchal ways of thinking…are glorified in gangsta rap’ (116) and I think she’s right. Although I do not think she is right in all that she says in this narrative. She also says that ‘young black males are forced to take the heat for encouraging via their music the hatred of and violence against women…’ (116), and this I do not believe it completely true. She believes that the black men of America have taken themselves to a new degree in order to make themselves ‘higher’ than black women – she believes that the black men should be equal to the black women and that the men should believe that as well.
Since black women were suggested to be whores and sexual immoral, their cries of rape went unheard because they lack legitimacy in a society that believed men were provoked to acted in a natural way. Davis believes that the creation of the black rapist was used as a scapegoat in order to veil the true problem of black women being sexually assaulted by white men. A historical feature of racism is that white men, especially those with money and authority, possess an indisputable right to access a Black woman’s body. Davis also stated that the institution of lynching complimented by the rape of Black women became and essential ingredient of postwar strategy of racism. Lynching and the labeling of black men being rapist and raping black women for being promiscuous, both black men and women were able to be kept in check.
Sanders stated that black women have long been a "secondary consideration" in relation to other genders and races in society (74). Abbey Lincoln--black singer, lecturer, and actress--declared that black men think black women are the "downfall" of the black race (82). Lincoln stated that black men view the black female race as "‘evil,’ ‘hard to get along with,’ ‘domineer... ... middle of paper ... ... to Black History. Online. Internet.
Thiam explains the false consciousness of the black women as well. The goal for the women is to achieve total independence, to call man bluff and all alienating influences. The European view point of exploitation of women in Europe compared to the African American women shows an inaccurate judgment. If rape is to women compared to the raping of black, then what is raping and lynching to the African American female? This is a paradox which Thiam explained.
Black lesbian women destroy themselves by keeping their sexuality hidden so they won’t be seen as different. When found out by the community, black lesbian women are caught in a bind of racism and homophobia, but they are seen as a threat to the entire Black nation. Audre Lorde also talks about how black women who are considered different are seen by men, but how they are also perceived by white and black women. Audre Lorde wants a reformed society. She puts her opinions out to the world so people could understand the struggle black and lesbian women face.
Sapphire, more commonly views as the angry black woman is viewed as, the bad black woman, the black “bitch, and the emasculating matriarch (88). The reason there may not be much research on this myth is because many researchers themselves acknowledge the stereotype (89). The stereotype is seen not as black women’s anger towards the unequal treatment and circumstances they endure, but an irrational desire to control black males, families, and communities around them (95). This stereotype bestows yet another double standard for black women in America today. While a white woman’s passion and drive may be seen as ambitious and exceptional, a black woman displaying the same perseverance would be seen in a negative rather than glorified light.
In The Venus Hip Hop and the Pink Ghetto, Perry begins the essay with the shocking realization of the way women are presented in hip hop videos. Although she seems to set up a strong opening argument that positive body images for women in black society are in danger, Perry’s lack of evidence to support her main points and weak arguments about why young girls self-esteem could be on the decline take away from her credibility and causes the reader to challenge her opinions. Perry’s slippery slope mentality that the way women are presented in hip hop will lead to an overall decline in self-esteem in young girls has no supporting evidence that can prove a direct relationship between the two issues.
Maxine Leeds Craig, Women and Gender studies professor at the University of California, expresses that the beauty industry targets specific racial groups according to their predominant features in her book Ain’t I a Beauty Queen?. She suggests that the black culture has become an economics opportunity to implement aesthetics improvements. Hair straighteners are some of the commercial products directly associated to African American women. The social pressure that African American women receive from society’s beauty standards, makes them straightened their hair or wear wigs voluntarily to be part of the conceptual form of beauty. The body of African American men and women has been despised, reticule, and feared by the dominant culture since the beginning of time.
Not only that, Gwin’s book discusses the idea that for most of the eighteenth and nineteenth century, a black woman usually got subjected to displacement of sexual and mental frustration of white women. Gwin discusses how these black women, because of the sexual and mental abuse, felt looked down on more by whites and therefore reduced to even a lower level than that of white women‘s status of being a woman. . 	A southern white female slave owner only saw black women as another slave, or worse. White women needed to do this in order to keep themselves from feeling that they were of higher status than every one else except for their husband.