Women’s relationships with their own bodies has long been a lightning rod sparking pervasive and complex debates within American pop culture about what constitutes sexiness, beauty, and feminism. Recently, a certain reality television star made news again by exposing a certain part of her anatomy. Of course, this is a reference to Kim Kardashian West and the latest bare-bottom pictures that caused an apparent uproar on social media. Some view Kim’s actions as yet another self-serving stunt, while others consider the photos a celebration of curves challenging the so-called standards of American beauty. Still others see her move as an act of shrewdly calculated economic empowerment. To paraphrase the urban cult classic, Player’s Club, Kim is simply using what she has to get what she wants. What could be more American than that? One thing is for sure, Kim’s backside is certainly not the first to double as a conversation piece and most likely will not be the last. Society’s obsession with the female physique is constantly evolving and can reveal a lot about where we are and where we are going.
Black is Beautiful, Part II
For decades, blonde hair, blue eyes, pale skin, and a slender frame have equaled true American beauty. Women on the margins are often considered to be exotic, voluptuous, or the ever-popular “pretty for a Black girl”; but we’ve never really been considered to be the prototype for what constitutes attractiveness in the mainstream society. Then the 1970’s came along and challenged everything that we thought we knew about pretty. The mantra “Black is Beautiful” took on a life of its own. Suddenly, brown and black skin and curly, kinky hair enjoyed some of the spotlight. We began to see caramel-toned faces grace the covers of magazines and long African legs strut down some of the most coveted runways in the world. Even with these achievements, everyday girls still had a hard time finding genuine representations of themselves in film, television, or print.
The 80’s introduced the world to hip-hop culture and what was once an underground wealth of urban thought and street customs, soon became a global phenomenon. Rappers introduced new language, new music, and a new way of being to the world. Amongst these gifts, they also introduced a new concept of beauty. They unapologetically praised the full figures of curvy girls and even devoted entire songs to them (i.e. Rumpshaker, Baby Got Back, etc.). In the beginning, it felt good to finally be noticed and appreciated. It was refreshing to turn on the television and see women that reflect your body type. As time marched on, it became quite apparent that one particular part of our anatomy was getting the lion’s share of the world’s attention.
Attention soon turned into obsession. In recent times, pop culture’s fixation on the female posterior seems to have hit an all-time high (or low, depending on who you ask). The objectification of the female body is nothing new in a male-dominated society. That story is as old as the beginning of time. But, in the last few decades, women have joined the game in a more conspicuous fashion than ever before. Just like any other cultural trend, it has its pros and cons; its winners and losers.
The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
During the early 19th century, Saartjie “Sarah” Baartman was exhibited as a freak show attraction known throughout Europe as the Hottentot Venus. She was an African slave who was exploited because of her body type. It is said that she had unusually large hips and buttocks, and an elongated labia. Baartman was literally put on display by her owners for the sole intention of being gawked at and examined by strangers. Even after her death, her body was dissected and the remains of her brain, skeleton, and genitalia were put on public display in the Museum of Man in Paris for more than 100 years. Very little is known about the intimate details of Saartjie Baartman’s life; but it is painfully clear that she was a victim of exploitation and had no control whatsoever of her own body or image.
Fast forward to 2014. Kim K.’s cover photo on the November edition of Paper Magazine drew some harsh criticism and some compared her image to that of Baartman. The photo features a fully nude Kim, balancing a champagne glass on her world famous booty. It is true that both women’s bodies have become something of a public spectacle and controversy; but the similarities don’t get far beyond that point. The clearest distinction that can be made is that one is wealthy and Caucasian while the other was African and destitute. Putting aside racial and economic disparities, the most significant difference is the presence (or absence in Saartjie’s case) of free will. Baartman was never afforded her God-given right to claim ownership of the most private parts of her own body. Kim has the freedom to choose when, where, how, and what parts of her own body to expose. As a culture, it is up to us to decide whether or not this fact makes us any more liberated, because at the end of the day, it seems that the lasting legacy of both Bartmaan and Kardashian will be a hyper-sexualized caricature of the female ass.
“Clearly I Am Not a Fat Ass”
The opening line of Jill Scott’s “Womanifesto” speaks to the hearts of modern women who struggle daily to balance being both powerful and sexy; respected and attractive. This is relatively easy for women who have the means to stay “pretty” and the influence to affect popular opinion. Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Nicki Minaj can parade around in next to nothing and still stake a claim as an empowered feminist because they are our chosen trendsetters. And it is okay to follow trends as long as you understand that they are trends—nothing more; nothing less. Today the trend may be big booties and big boobs. Tomorrow it could be waif-thin frames and long legs. Women (especially younger women) often make the mistake of turning trendsetters into standard-setters. When this happens the result can be detrimental to self-esteem and on rare occasions, tragic. Just ask April Brown.
Brown, now a motivational speaker, succumbed to the pressure of having a perfect body. In an effort to create a rounder, bigger bottom for herself, Brown got silicone injections in her buttocks at a “pumping party” in 2007. A reaction to the injections led to a near fatal infection. Eventually, Brown’s hands and feet had to be amputated to save her life. Like so many of us, Brown’s dissatisfaction with her own image paired with the burden placed on her by the culture to fit a certain mold, created a perfect storm of disillusion and feelings of inadequacy. That’s the perfect recipe for a poor decision.
As individuals, it’s important to understand that we each are responsible for setting our own standards, no matter what the current hot trends may be. You can decide what is beautiful, powerful, sexy, or intelligent for yourself through your own unique, human experience. I don’t have to have an ass like Kim Kardashian to feel sexy. Kim doesn’t have to have a master’s degree to feel smart. Self-love and self-awareness are the bedrocks of a confident woman. If we could just make the world understand that we are so much more than a collection of body parts…
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