ISSUES FACED BY BLACK WOMEN IN UNITED STATES

Thesis Statement

It is clear that the U.S. promotes contradictory messages about femininity for all women yet many argue that the message differ for black women. I believe that this argument is credible. The image of the black women has tended to be neglected. Some ways should be needed to adopt to transform stereotypical notions of black femininity.

Introduction

In United States, the image of the Black women is stereotyped. The history went back to hundreds of years back when they were enslaved by the white Europeans in the Caribbean and Southern United States. Hierarchies were established during that time and the terms of race, identity, gender and culture were manipulated for the maintenance of power over blacks. The image of the Blacks was stereotyped and they were considered as ignorant, uncultured and of volatile nature. Blacks were even treated as non- humans. Dreadful and terrible human rights violations were committed against blacks. False logic and propaganda was also propagated about the black females and their personalities were stereotyped. And even now in the modern society, white people still stereotype the image of black women. They were considered to be physically tough, muscular and sturdy while the white women on the other hand were considered as pure, flimsy and delicate. When Black women came in United States or in the in the Caribbean, they did not have the clothes to wear. Their nakedness portrayed the false image of sluttishness among white people. White people considered the nudity of Black women as a rationalization for raping these women with out any guiltiness feelings. According to Brenda, Whites ascertained black women as non-human, but they yet desired their body and the contentment of having sex with them. At many times, the black women were compromised with their fate because if they didn't abide by their masters, they could be beaten until to death.

Also, the identity of the black woman as a wife and mother was reckoned disapprovingly. However, unfortunately nothing has changed so much in the current scenario. Black women are still regarded indifferent from the white women.

Discussion

There is wide gap between the images of black women and white women with respect to their personal traits, their lifestyle and their image. All the negative aspects of a personality were attributed to the Black women while all the positive traits were credited to white women. Physically muscular, primitive, lubricious, dominant and dirty; all of these traits were stereotyped about the Black women. On the other hand, white women were perceived as possessing all the positive aspects of real womanhood like holiness, faithfulness, high esteem, domesticity, delicacy and cleanliness etc. The stereotypical perceptions of Black women were very high and that's why they did not get such respect and worth as was their right.

There is an inter- relationship between the stereotypes of black women. These stereotypes are controlled images that are constructed socially so to main their dominance over these women. These stereotypes are designed to justify the oppression by ...