Fetishism and Sexual Objectification towards African (Black) Women in Modern Society: Analyzing the Portrayal of African Women in the Media

Fransisca Bianca

doi:10.26593/sentris.v1i1.4132.91-99

Abstract

In the perspective of multicultural feminism, beside society needs to end the subordination of women to men, it also needs to end the subordination of women to fellow women depending on her race, religion, education, etc. Multicultural feminism also emphasizes the acknowledgement of the difference between each woman’s background to understand their issues. Even so, the fact remains that women of color; African women in the case of this paper, still face objectification by society. While considered as possessing the ideal physique to fit men’s sexual desires, African women are still considered subordinate than Caucasian women. This does not only emphasize the portrayal of women as objects to men, but also emphasizes the consideration of women of color being in lower class than Caucasian women. Thus, with consideration to the way African women are portrayed in the media as exemplified by the case analysis in this paper, it could be concluded that African women (and other women of color) are still more often objectified in modern society.

Highlights

According to the Oxford Dictionary, fetishism itself refers to “a form of sexual desire in which gratification is linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, item of clothing, part of the body, etc.”[1]
The point of this early sexual exploitation of women in a culture with a strong patriarchal way of perception, is even since women of color have been thought of as mere objects; bought, sold, and eventually owned to be used by their owners, which were Caucasian men. This way of treatment did emphasize the already ongoing social understanding that men held more power than women, and unconsciously drew a line of separation to women of color in terms of social and economic class, and, and more importantly, worth. This may be the basis of multicultural feminism itself, which is the type of feminism to be used in analyzing this paper
Multicultural feminism emphasizes the need for equality, between men and women and among women in general

Summary

INTRODUCTION

According to the Oxford Dictionary, fetishism itself refers to “a form of sexual desire in which gratification is linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, item of clothing, part of the body, etc.”[1]. Women slaves in particular have historically been accounted for as objects, often sexually abused or “used” by their masters.[2] The point of this early sexual exploitation of women in a culture with a strong patriarchal way of perception, is even since women of color have been thought of as mere objects; bought, sold, and eventually owned to be used by their owners, which were Caucasian men This way of treatment did emphasize the already ongoing social understanding that men held more power than women, and unconsciously drew a line of separation to women of color in terms of social and economic class, and, and more importantly, worth. This paper aims to produce an answer to its research question: how are African women objectified in modern society?

Fetishism and Objectification towards African Women in the Media

CONCLUSION