“When race and ethnicity become commodified as resources for pleasure, the culture of specific groups, as well as the bodies of individuals can be seen as constituting an alternative playground where members of dominating races, gender, sexual practices affirm their power-over in intimate relations with the Other.” The reading by Bell Hooks goes on to describe how some white males view having sex with non-white women as a form of conquest to mark their “manhood” and experience. “The body of the Other was seen as existing to serve the ends of white male desires.” At a young age, women of color, particularly black women and Latinas, are hypersexualized in American society. This leads to the assumption that they are more “experienced” and less “innocent” than white women, as discussed in the reading.
I think this reading highlights what is so off by someone assisting that they aren’t racist because they are dating someone or even just hooking up with someone that is a racial minority. Yes, if you’re in a healthy relationship where you respect, care about, and listen to the other person, then ideally you would be aware of and upset about the prejudice they face and make an effort to understand why it’s happening. Even in these relationships though, the person still has an obligation to acknowledge their own internal prejudice and make an effort to try to be better and more aware instead of denying that they’ve been brought up in a racist society. When someone tries to claim they aren’t racist because they are with someone of x racial/ethnic minority, it just sounds like someone is implying that because they are attracted to someone and have sex with them, they automatically respect them. Sex doesn’t communicate you respect someone. Sex does not show that you value someone. By someone automatically referring to how they have sexual relations with a woman of color as the main indicator of respect and understanding, it just enforces the male/white gaze. It seems to imply that a woman of color’s value/purpose comes from sex/romance and how they make that person’s life better.
I completely agree with you. I think that a lot of the times, white culture sees deviant cultures as something deviantly attractive. Like amusement. There is little attention paid to the objectifying nature of this mindset. This is literally using someone for personal benefit; whatever that might be.
ReplyDeleteI have heard soooooo many men say things like "i love latinas because they are spicy" and that is just wrong. There is still a lack in individualization and people cling to the superficial. Race should be the least of a person's concern when attracted to someone. what about values? personality? this is just sad.
Hello Erin, I totally agree with you opinion about Bell Hook’s quote:“When race and ethnicity become commodified as resources for pleasure, the culture of specific groups, as well as the bodies of individuals can be seen as constituting an alternative playground where members of dominating races, gender, sexual practices affirm their power-over in intimate relations with the Other.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote is so important because it really represents a big part of today’s society. Women of color and different ethnicities are slowly becoming more acceptable in society. More than being accepted, they are being overly hypersexualized and miss represented a lot. I believe that the media is one with the guilt. Since we are a media-technology driven society, people are constantly learning from it and then acting upon it.
When someone says that they are not racist because they are dating or hooking up with someone of color doesn’t always mean that they aren’t. I’ve seen multiple relationships where there is a white Caucasian male with a Latina woman where he claims to not be racist and love latino culture, but votes for Trump. Or also relationships where the white Caucasian male is dating a black woman but won’t introduce them to his parents…
When being in a relationship, I am a strong believer that you need to be attracted to the person for their values, personality, integrity and their inside beauty. Unfortunatelly, we live in a ‘hook up’ culture where ‘relationships’ only get to a very superficial and physical level. People don’t really want to get to know each other, they only care on sleeping with someone that is attractive.
Luci, I have heard that too so many times. People automatically judge and label us because of our ethnicity. Without getting to know me, I have had several encounters with men just trying to talk to me because of my accent and the way I look. The most ironic part of them all, these men are 100% white conservatives that will most likely be in a Trump rally applauding to him throwing tear gas to those poor innocent family and children in the border.