While reading Grogan’s Body Image, all I could do was shake my head. The studies listed in the section of the book are dated back to the 1990s, and here we are in the year of 2018 and these same ideals are still true today. The part of the text that spoke to me was the section on body ideals in relation to age, social class, ethnicity, and sexuality. She addresses the body ideals in relation to ethnicity by looking at a study held by Harris et al. that compared the idea of beauty amongst whites and African Americans (156). Harris found that obese African American women had a more positive body image. As a 22 year old African American woman, this is something that I can attest to and it’s sickening. Overall, there is a general idea that being thin equates to being beautiful in society. While this does hold some truth, this is not the case amongst the African American community.
I have been tall and thin my entire life, even during my freshman year in college I fell victim to the “freshman 15.”. Now this isn’t something that can be seen by the naked eye, no matter how much weight I gain I still maintain my slim figure. Everyone always thinks that life is much easier being thin, but having been this way my entire life I can say that this is far from the truth. No one ever talks about the skinny jokes, or being called a little boy. One of my most embarrassing memories to date is from when I was younger and I was at church with my dad and this man who attended the church called me over to him and said that he had some clothes for me to take home. I had never met this man prior to this, needless to say the man was confused and thought that I was little boy. When I was younger, my mother would dress in ways that she wanted to dress me despite how I felt and the same went for my hair.
That particular day I remember wearing a pink striped button down shirt, a pair of kakis, and maybe 6 straight back braids in my head with no bows. I was taunted and teased by my siblings for so long this day, no one ever stopped to see how I felt about it but this is also common amongst the African American culture. Even at my age now, I am conscience of how I dress and wear my hair only now it isn’t out of fear of anyone mistaking me as a boy. Now I fight an eternal battle every day because of the memories of my childhood and the labels and expectations that society has placed on me as a black woman.
To be black and to be a woman means that you are expected to be this sex symbol, every man’s dirty fantasy. When thinking of black women, many envision the video vixen type: big butt, big breasts, small waist but not too small, oiled up, and half naked. Positive images of black women’s bodies are rare in mainstream western media. (Doy 1996 & Nochlin 1991). The only way to see a black woman in media is either through the hip-hop culture or through pornography. Black women are held to the standards of these images daily. Unfortunately the sexualization of the black woman’s body starts at a very young age. We are taught at young ages to cover up and not dress and act a certain way so that we do no provoke grown men.
Some authors have suggested that the negative portrayal of black bodies in mainstream media may lead to privileging paler skin color within the black community (Nayak 1997). In other words colorism, this is something that has plagued black people for centuries. Colorism is the idea that was instilled in blacks by white people. It dates back to the days of slavery and the concept of house slaves and field slaves. Lighter skinned blacks are deemed as more attractive, especially amongst women. Darker skinned women are forced to be ashamed of the extra pigmentation in our skin. It wasn’t enough to be hated by white people, but we have to hate each other as well.
One thing that I hear almost on a daily basis is how pretty I am, and how I have the perfect body and should take advantage of it while I can. Many of the compliments are often tainted by four little words “for a black girl”. As if beauty isn’t something that belongs to me as a black woman. Because I am thin, and because I am pretty, I am told that I should model. People say this to me as if I can just snap my fingers and end up on a runway or on the cover of a magazine. Sarah Grogan states that there is a noticeable absence of African American and Afro-Caribbean models in cosmetics advertisements (160). This fact alone is the reason why I will never make it as a model. These are dreams that I have always had as a child and even tried to pursue with the help of my mother. The two most popular models with darker skin are the infamous Naomi Campbell and Iman.
Bottom line, there is no winning the game. No one is going to be considered beautiful or attractive in everyone’s eyes. I am living testimony that being thin doesn’t increase the chances either. If I were a thin white girl with blue eyes and blonde hair I may be telling a different story. To be black, to be woman, and to be thin is something that seems to be forbidden amongst my people. As stated before the studies listed in this chapter were conducted in the 1990s and look where we are today.
Reshaé Butler is a 22 year old senior at ODU working toward obtaining her degree in fashion merchandising in Fall 2018. She originally transferred from a private school in NOVA called Marymount University. She currently works at Victoria’s Secret, and is using her time there to learn more about what it takes to be in visual merchandising. Reshaé has spent her entire life in the Hampton Roads area, outside of her one semester at MU and has plans to move much warmer climates soon after graduation.
January 30, 2018 at 12:22 am
It is so interesting to see how body types are valued in one culture and devalued in another. It really helps to see how arbitrary our standards of beauty can be! We need to fight for representation of all different body types–and all races and ethnicities–in media and merchandising!
November 9, 2019 at 6:56 pm
Your probably a cunt
February 7, 2020 at 12:51 am
You’re *
March 13, 2020 at 11:26 pm
Hi,
I think you are gorgeous period. I’m so baffled by we as blacks are quick to criticize white people about how they treat us when we are the ones who are doing the damage to our own people. It’s ludicrous!
I can relate when I was your age I was told that I was real small for a black woman. I was also advised to be a model. I’m 31 and people still think the same. I’m just small. I can’t help that. In the black community they would call you a stick or say yu don’t have any butt or yabos. For the first time in my life I am gaining some weight. Today I was sitting in a platform restaurant eating my lunch. Two large slices of cheese pizza. I eat a lot. I have a big appetite, sometimes. My appetite has increased because I’ve been taking endure nutritional drinks. I’ve also gained weight. I’m still small because I’m really tall and my body is built different. I never been a big boned person. Anyways, I was eating at the platform and one of the security guards who happened to be large was staring at me. At first I did not want to seem paranoid so I glanced at her to see if she was staring at me or just looking around like a security guards who was doing her job. I glanced at her and she was staring at me and she seemed a little annoyed. Her expression look annoyed. I don’t want to make a big deal about it but Sometimes the self consciousness of eating in public can take precedence over my entire experience. I’m not as bad as I use to be in my 20s but I still get stairs. I still feel pressure to eat all of my food on my plate. Lol. I understand how you are feeling I hate the stereotypes of the black community. I think we should praise a healthy body image. I’m not saying being skinny is a healthy body image. I think that in the black community when a person suspects that a woman to be underweight they will put more shame on her. Not all small women’s are underweight. It depends on your BMI, height and age. I’m 58 and I’m 122. That’s normal for me. Also I could be 130 and still look small because thats my body make up. That’s how I’m built. A black woman could be overweight and no one in our community would address it. I don’t think that’s right at all. It’s not fair to the woman who is overweight nor the other women who are shamed into looking like that in our community.
September 1, 2020 at 1:30 am
Truth!
April 2, 2020 at 7:23 pm
What’s up, after reading this amazing post i am as well glad to share my familiarity here with
colleagues.
April 28, 2020 at 3:39 am
Everyone is not for everyone and for a person, a lady you are rare, unique and specifically special. You will find that those persons who want to relive their lives look at your size and remember to try and force you to forget the moment. Do I prefer skinny women, yes, are they more attractive to me, oh yes so I a sure to not step out of my type to offend anyone; and that is why I am still single because I refuse to settle. My word of faith to you is, let the naysayers continue to babble about your size but I can guarantee you, there are more of us willing to encourage you than discourage you. Your size matters, first to you then to those persons who adore, respect and admire your size.
September 21, 2020 at 9:26 pm
Wow I agree with this so much. I am short and pretty thin. I have a sliver of a thigh gap but I do have a bigger bust and a little bit of hips. Still, all while growing up I was taunted by a lot of black guys at my inner city academic school. When I returned back to private school outside of the city, I never got taunted. I believe not only race has to do with this body image ideal, but also socioeconomic status. Because if I want dates I’ll have to date white/Asian males OR black guys from the suburbs as their ideals are usually similar to those around them. It’s really a hassle and a shame. To a point, some black guys (inner city) will look at me and say it looks like I don’t date black guys. No, you know that your inner circle doesn’t care for my look, rather it is typically other races that do.
October 16, 2020 at 5:19 am
I am still grappling with this quote:
“Harris found that obese African American women had a more positive body image. As a 22 year old African American woman, this is something that I can attest to and it’s sickening.” What part of this is sickening? Fatphobia is a thing~ You can be thin and experience racism and sexism – your struggle with body image is not the same as privilege.
You are conflating a lot of things on top of each other…I get your premise/what you are trying to say but how people read your gender and how people read your sexuality is still via the white heteropatriarchial gaze and it seems like you are separating that from what the Black community participates or is influenced by.
October 30, 2020 at 5:35 am
This piece spoke to me on a personal level. I am a black woman, 5 foot, eleven inches tall. Growing up…my mother constantly made comments in front of others, demeaning me over having a “white girl’s figure.” I am an A cup, with a long torso and legs..model build. People would also say I should be a model growing. I have been criticized by my own family members for my body type. When I gained weight..now I am meaning 226 pounds compared to my usual slim 170 – 160 pound sized (which is still a little high for me).. I would be considered “thick” and reasonable..despite the physical complications. Knee pain, shortness of breath, eating very unhealthy…Now…I am 55 pounds down from my heaviest weight and in possibly the best shape of my life. I have even been told I am “too skinny” at my natural weight. I realize as obesity is becoming normalized in western society..my body type is not interesting. I am now 32 years old..and I am A-O-fuckin-K with my slim, tall, model like build, working out, and eating healthier foods considered “not black enough.” Regardless of my looks or lifestyle..I have not fit in. I can finall except it and be myself but growing up it was damn hard. My skin was too light, my hair was too nappy, and I was too skinny..not to mention I’ve been mistaken for a boy on multiple occasions in my youth as well. Be your beautiful YOU.