Another video about how NOT to dress and act: Feminine Masculinity & Androgyny
As you could see from the video, any woman, even a beautiful woman, can look masculine depending on her clothing, hairstyle, posture, and mannerisms. Notice most of them are slouching with their legs open, and they are not smiling. They are trying to look hard. As Black women we have to fight to not appear masculine or androgynous and leave that behaviour to other women. Don't dress like the women in the video if you want to be considered feminine and be treated like a lady. We just can't get away with it the way other women can. Some of them can dress this way, but because they are regarded as being more feminine as a group, they are still treated well. But because so many Black women have embraced masculine hip hop style and mannerisms we are considered more masculine. I don't buy that theory that dark skin is associated with being masculine, that's just some people's preference.
Here are some videos showing feminine fashion ideas:
Asian Fashion Inspiration2
I also thought this would be interesting for those of you who don't think you are pretty enough. Most of us don't wake up looking pretty, not even celebrities!
I don't buy that. Naturally, Black women are more muscular and we generally carry more weight. That is a scientific fact. That is how we survived. Our genetic makeup that fights off Malaria in Africa, protected us from death during the Mid-Atlantic passage, but predisposes us to hypertension, that is also a fact. There are some things about us, sans cloning or plastic surgery, that are NOT going to change about us...
ReplyDelete... However, black women do not naturally look masculine. Why are we still, in 2012, trying to live up to a Western, Europeanized view of what they think we should be? It's been many sistas experience that even when we carry ourselves in a conservative, rerserved, but intelligent and articulate manner, we are not respected in the classroom or in the office... That's not our problem! Individuals with those biases will only see us in their own limited view...
With regard to Hip-Hop, you cannot be "soft" in Hop-Hop. Hip-Hop is all about bravado, machoism, and being the BEST, bar-none. There were some women who came on the scene and chose NOT to have a sex-symbol or objectified image because they wanted to be respected for what they could do... But there have been some classy ladies of Hip Hop... Cheryl "Salt" James comes to mind... But the industry chooses not to sign and promote female artists with that image. Again, that's their issue... not ours.
Do our young ladies need to be taught how to walk in heels, formal dining etiquette, how to conduct one's self in a corporate environment, and how to articulate themselves? YES. But these character traits not only make the "better women"... It makes them better people. Diplomacy, intelligence, confidence, and competence are great character traits for ALL people. Not just black women.
Very sad to see these Asian sistas resorting to PLASTIC SURGERY for a Europeanized look, because they don't think their natural beauty in it's own expression is acceptable... Capitalism and Colonialism has done a number on the world of people of color...
ReplyDeleteHello ADS,
ReplyDeleteThe Asian women in the video above did not have plastic surgery. They are just wearing make-up and false eyelashes. All the "blame the White man" talk is really getting boring to me. They are trying to be as attractive as possible and using their power to do so instead of acting like victims and refusing to do anything.
Hello Anonymous #2,
ReplyDeleteYou stated "I don't buy that. Naturally, Black women are more muscular and we generally carry more weight. That is a scientific fact. That is how we survived. Our genetic makeup that fights off Malaria in Africa, protected us from death during the Mid-Atlantic passage, but predisposes us to hypertension, that is also a fact. There are some things about us, sans cloning or plastic surgery, that are NOT going to change about us..."
Well I don't buy this! This type of science is based on accounting for biology after the fact. It is based on educated guesses about why people are the way they are but there is no way to verify if these things are true! Many women in Africa are very thin (even if they do have enough food)so why is that? Are they all muscular? No! This type of argument is not scientific fact they are just educated guesses that could be completely wrong. Believing this sort of thing is one reason why some Black women accept being overweight and unhealthy...they think they are supposed to be that way. Eating less, eating healthier, and exercising more works if you do it properly and stick to it.
You also wrote "... However, black women do not naturally look masculine. Why are we still, in 2012, trying to live up to a Western, Europeanized view of what they think we should be? It's been many sistas experience that even when we carry ourselves in a conservative, rerserved, but intelligent and articulate manner, we are not respected in the classroom or in the office... That's not our problem! Individuals with those biases will only see us in their own limited view..."
That has not been my experience. There have been times when I was not treated as very intelligent, but there are many more times when I was treated as the most intelligent. It depends on where you live and the situation. I get respect at work and school. What you are stating is showing your victim mentality that the world will never respect you and it's hopeless to expect otherwise. I don't believe that. Do you really think that there was nothing about your behaviour. speech, or attitude that contributes (not entirely causes) their reactions? If you made changes to yourself do you think they would make no difference? If the answer is no then this blog definitely is not for you because this blog is all about making personal changes. As for the comment about European standards of beauty...I think beauty is beauty and we should try to be as attractive as we can using whatever role models are possibly attainable regardless of race. What are Black standards of beauty? If they include having dark skin,short hair, and a broad nose then even I don't conform to those standards! I don't conform to the straight hair, light skin, long pointy nose, thin lip standard either. I just look at beautiful women and try to enhance my natural features as best I can.
Also to Anonymous #2
ReplyDeleteLast of all you said "With regard to Hip-Hop, you cannot be "soft" in Hop-Hop. Hip-Hop is all about bravado, machoism, and being the BEST, bar-none. There were some women who came on the scene and chose NOT to have a sex-symbol or objectified image because they wanted to be respected for what they could do... But there have been some classy ladies of Hip Hop... Cheryl "Salt" James comes to mind... But the industry chooses not to sign and promote female artists with that image. Again, that's their issue... not ours."
I'm really tired of hip hop apologists. Whenever someone says they don't like hip hop or rap they come out and protest that we need to give it a chance because there are some positive rappers out there but "the man" refuses to make them popular. I don't want to give it a chance when there is better music out there. I don't want to listen to all the garbage in hopes that I will find some gem that isn't racist or sexist. I'd rather listen to stations or music styles where the majority of the music is non-racist and non-sexist.
Based on a lot of your comments I think you need to take a look at how your victim mentality may be holding you back and possibly giving you a negative attitude (yes most of us have experienced it from time to time). You also seem big on defending maintaining the status quo for Black women (e.g., not trying to be as slim or attractive as other women and not rejecting hip hop) and that may be self-destructive thinking. I'm hoping that you are not a troll just trying to be negative on this blog but I will give you the benefit of the doubt :)
Interesting article, but I wish you had used pictures of Black women in feminine attire. I'm sure there are some out there. Fact is we're not Asian and thin and we'll NEVER look that way. That sort of comparison only makes people feel bad.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Anonymous. Please find me a video of Black women wearing similar clothes like the one's in the video. Then I will gladly post it :)
ReplyDelete