Nothing steams a modern woman's buns like the mention of patriarchy. Any conversation leaning towards its favor could end in honest chants of 'who run the world? Girls!'.
Female power is a wonderful thing. It has done a daunting amount of global good, but there are sometimes when a critical mind is drawn to wonder if women aren't turning into the monsters they are trying to topple.
Especially when the focus is black women.
Recently, Renee Donaldson, a black Youtuber, and social influencer apologized to her followers for promoting a brand called Clinichub.
Clinichub is a business that acts as a middle man between plastic surgery clinics in Istanbul, Turkey, and potential clients around the world.
What is interesting about this business is how it specifically targets black women and uses influencers like Renee to lure them under the knife.
Well, Renee apologized to her fans after her 'Brazilian butt lift' surgery went south, leaving her with lumps. And from what journalists have gathered, Renee's experience is not an outlier. Watch the documentary here.
But why black women? That's very easy! Did you hear of the #BussIt Challenge? If you didn't, just know it involves colorful twerking (but done bent down). This challenge was by and for black women, as an entertaining way of 'celebrating' them and their bodies.
And what is the effect? The effect is the perpetuation of sexualizing stereotypes about black women and their bodies. The presence of Clinichub and influencers like Renee is proof that these stereotypes exist and are commercialized.
If you don't believe me, watch this documentary (below) of a 23yr Black woman talking about why she wants to undergo one of the most fatal cosmetic surgeries, the Brazilian butt lift--the same one Renee did in Istanbul--for her self esteem.
Black girl power has always been associated with liberating both the minds and bodies of women. But is the cultural aesthetic of black bodies that is being promoted by the same crowd that has 'girl power' as their war chant doing any good?
Women increasingly sexualize themselves and other women under the banner of sexual pride and freedom but don't seem to be catching on to the real-time negative effects. The same effects which have been linked to the oppression of patriarchy: objectification of women, body shame, low self-esteem etc.
Put differently, this means that black women may riding to war but not to victory. They may be fighting the traditional perpetrator but not the philosophy.
Or what do you think?
Esohe Ewaenosa Iyare.
If you liked this article, kindly subscribe. The French and Igbo versions will be made available soon.
Ikegwuru
ReplyDeleteI do not know how the message changed from, "You should not feel bad about the way you look 'cos you are beautiful and strong, regardless" to "You are strong, so you should opt to change how you look, so you can be beautiful". We lost the message!
ReplyDeleteWe really did!
DeleteThis is a beautiful piece. Now, it feels like we are just entering the era where women would do just about anything to prove they really rule the world. How do I end this comment?
ReplyDeleteYes Eniola, I've seen a woman being celebrated by the UN for smearing menstrual blood on her face to prove that periods are beautiful. I value my menstrual cycle as much as the next gal but what she did was just plain gross.
DeleteWe need to be critical about actions that are labelled as 'empowering women'. Someone once said "if they say something empowers, please check if the powerful do it'
...I felt that!