Life and Times of Sarah Baartman Documentary Discussion PDF

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Running head: SARA BAARTMAN DISCUSSION

Life and Times of Sarah Baartman Documentary Discussion

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SARA BAARTMAN DISCUSSION

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Sara Baartman Discussion The documentary “Life and Times of Sarah Baartman” provides detailed information about the journey of Sara Baartman. Baartman was born in 1789 and experienced life challenges due to her mother’s death when she was two. Her father also passed on when she was an adolescent (Parkinson, 2016). Baartman was used for exhibitions due to her large buttocks with the audience required to pay to view the unique physical features. In October 1810, Baartman won a contract with Hendrik Cesars to take part in London and Paris shows (Crais & Scully, 2010). The shows attracted many viewers due to her unique physical appearance of having large bottoms. Wealthy customers were offered Baartman to entertain them at their homes and were allowed to touch her. The private demonstration increased the income of the Europeans using Baartman's large buttocks. During the shows, Baartman faced racism and sexism from the European guests. The Baartman shows were dehumanizing and displayed a lack of respect for the black women in the community. Baartman’s promoters used for financial gain and causing emotional trauma to Baartman. Parkinson (2016) states that the British Empire abolished salve trade in 1807 and prosecuted Baartman’s promoters. The holding of Baartman against her will was a crime but the campaigners intimidated Baartman against telling the truth. Baartman testified in favor of campaigners with fear of what will happen to her after the case. According to Crais and Scully (2010), Baartman moved to Paris in 1814 and she appeared in different shows. Baartman allowed artists and scientists to use her for their work. She died at 26 of inflammatory disease (Parkinson, 2016). However, after death, Baartman's body was preserved and used in the Paris Museum of Man. Baartman's skeleton, brain, and genitals remained in public display in Paris until 1974. Nelson Mandela, South Africa's president at the time, requested Baartman’s remains in 1994 and

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the French government approved the application in March 2002 (Parkinson, 2016). In August 2002, the remains of Baartman were buried in Eastern Cape Province. Several books, articles magazines, and poems have been written about Baartman’s treatment in Europe. The life of Baartman shows the extent of exploitation and suffering of black women. Modern black womanhood has experienced cases of exploitation. Black women should be respected for the different achievements in their life. The judging of black women based on physical appearance rather than their capabilities have negatively impacted black women in society. Baartman’s struggle is relevant in today’s society as black women experience cases of racism and ignorance. The achievement of black women is ignored by people causing emotional damage to the woman. Black women are commonly distinguished due to their features and not an achievement in life. Black women find it hard to get the necessary recognition for the different good things done in society. The achievement of black women is not appreciated by society reducing the morale of the women. The unfair treatment of black women has contributed to a reduced number of black women venturing into new things. According to GordonChipembere (2011), black women are underappreciated by the media and community. Examples of underappreciated women in the modern community are Michelle Obama, Caster Semenya, and Serena Williams. Michelle Obama has succeeded in protecting her body against media using the image to study the black woman. The disruption of language and culture regarding black women by Michelle Obama has increased the regard of different black women. Black femininity should be respected in making sure that an individual attains the intended goals. Baartman impacted different black women in the United States and in Africa to change their bodies (GordonChipembere, 2011). The changing of the body to have a big behind is sexism that reduces the

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self-esteem of black women. Women tend to perform different cosmetic surgeries to get bug buttocks to gain a positive view of the community. Michelle Obama changed the perception of black women by encouraging black women to achieve their goals without changing physical appearance. Black women's sexuality in music videos, models, and media should be avoided for increased self-esteem of black women in society. According to Gordon-Chipembere (2011), Michelle Obama encouraged the embracing of black womanhood without focusing on their bodies. Racial hatred against black women was reduced in the US by Michelle Obama. Black women are expected to feel beautiful and different without having to change physical appearance to appeal to the community. Caster Semenya a South African athlete has been a target of Western scientists. Scientific racism is the study of black women to understand the result of physical appearance. Baartman’s case is disheveled with scientific racism with scientists focusing on discovering the reason for her big buttocks. Scientific racism occurs when black woman genitals are compared to the white female organs. According to Ray (2009) at a young age of 18 years, Semenya was required to undergo gender verification tests before competing in the world athletics championship s in August 2009. Regularly athletes are subjected to drug tests for fair competition but Semenya was required to take gender proofing tests. The gender verification tests done on Semenya shows the disregard of humanity. Black women are subjected to racism and sexism making it hard to succeed in different fields. Media focused on Semenya's own physique to hinder her competing in women races. The gender tests were done to Semenya after she outperformed her Western competitors. Western nations disregard the black body of women considering cases of Sara Baartman and Semenya. Bare-breasted white women are not tested for gender verification but

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Semenya underwent gender verification tests for being masculine (Ray, 2009). The testing of female athlete eligibility to compete as a woman shows disrespect to the black woman's body. Serena Williams has enjoyed much success in tennis but she is not respected for her achievements due to race and gender. The life story Baartman shows that black women live in a feminist and racist world. Media displays Serena Williams as an aggressive and threatening black woman in tennis. According to Martin (2009), Fox News ran a story showing Serena Williams as underachiever though she was ranked number two in world tennis. Serena's insults from the media displaying her as not being a real woman despite her success. Toxin ran tests on most beautiful women with 28% of respondents stating white women and 11% voted for black women (Martin, 2009). Black womanhood in the modern-day is displayed as inferior to white women. The domination of Serena Williams in tennis is not appreciated. A person of color should overachieve to become successful showing the different standards set for white and black women. Black womanhood is underappreciated by the world with people focusing on the physical appearance of a black woman. Baartman was subjected to harsh treatment in the 19th century with her big buttocks being used for entertainment shows and scientific research. Feminism and racism are common in the modern world with successful black women not respected for their achievements. Semenya and Serena Williams have been subjected to feminism and scientific racism in sports. Semenya was required to undergo gender verification tests to compete in female races. Serena Williams is not shown proper respect for success in tennis. Michelle Obama tried to change the perception and culture of black womanhood by showing that a black woman is beautiful for being different.

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Crais, C., & Scully, P. (2010). Sara Baartman and the Hottentot Venus: A ghost story and a biography. Princeton University Press. Gordon-Chipembere, N. (2011). Under Cuvier’s microscope: The dissection of Michelle Obama in the twenty-first century. In Representation and black womanhood (pp. 165-180). Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Martin, R. (2009). Is Serena Williams the new Sarah Baartman? Global Comment. Retrieved from http://globalcomment.com/is-serena-williams-the-new-sarah-baartman/#. Parkinson, J. (2016). The significance of Sarah Baartman. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35240987 Ray, C. (2009). Caster Semenya: 21st Century'Hottentot Venus?’ Retrieved from https://africanexecutive.com/article/read/4857...