Ain’t I a Woman?
That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages or over mud-puddles or gives me any best place!
And Ain’t I a Woman?
Sojourner Truth
Megan Thee Stallion, Former First Lady Michelle Obama, and Multiple Olympic Medalist Serena Williams: these women who should be referred to as beautiful, strong, and impactful don’t get that praise. Instead, each one of these successful black women have been hyper-masculinized and put down by today’s society. Comments on Megan the Stallion looking like a man or even the former first lady being referred to as a trans woman. The list can go on. But why is it that the masculinization of Black Women in today’s society is so accepted?
Historical and systemic racism has been translated to the media, film, athletics, and television of today. Although Black men have experienced their fair share of systemic racism, Black women who are seen as the bottom of the racial/gender pyramid, are left to face constant ridicule and comparison to the male body unlike white women. On top of that, still facing disproportionate rates of sexual exploitation and abuse dated back to the times of slavery.
Serena Williams, who is tokened as being the greatest tennis player of all time has faced a constant outpour of comments body shaming her. People describe her body as “too muscular,” “manly” or her not being “feminine” enough. Former First Lady Michelle Obama has been fighting off allegations for decades linking her to trans women. Claiming that Michelle was born as Michael LaVaughn Robinson. Not only does this push both longstanding prejudices against trans women and black women that they are not feminine looking, but it displays the measures others will go to in putting down black women in positions of power.
Throughout history, women of darker complexions have negatively been seen as aggressive, loud, strong, and competitive which are all characteristics seen as bad in today’s society. However, this is not just due to today’s time but to society’s continued perspective from the vast majority that is usually white men. The white men who for centuries have degraded and only believed women should be the opposite of them compliant, quiet, and whom they can control. By many women being so far from this narrative, it makes them seem less feminine or not feminine at all. Black women are caught in between either being hyper-sexualized or having all bits of sexuality removed and unassociated with them.
The world will continue to put down Black women until they are viewed as equals to their counterparts. They will never truly understand the complexities that exist when being a black women. Our voices will constantly be muted and silenced, and others will never take the initiative to use their privilege in favor of us or even acknowledge it. To combat this, Serena used Beyonce’s “Lemonade” video to take back the narrative, while many other black women are taking the initiative to change the narrative. Instead of leaning towards them, we must lean towards us, 1000 voices will always be better than 1.
At the end of the day, who run the world?