Sara Baartman Discussion Essay. History Assignment.

Sara Baartman Discussion
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Sara Baartman Discussion
The discrimination against women of color has been evident from ancient times. Sara Baartman, Caster Semenya, Serena Williams, and Michelle Obama are examples of women of color that experienced discrimination. The sexism and discrimination of women of color negatively impact social growth. Social and economic development is possible by using the right policies to protect all types of people in the community. Equality in society is crucial for women of color to feel respected in the community. The women of color experience physical and emotional problems working towards having a specific body shape (Crais & Scully, 2010). The woman of color beauty is mostly determined through the physical appearance of the individual. Women of color are known to have large buttocks that have been used to judge the women from ancient times. Women of color are judged based on race, gender, and body shape. The harsh judging of women of color compared to white women negatively impacts the performance of women of color.
Baartman was a black woman born from the KhoiKhoi community in South Africa born in 1789 (Crais& Scully, 2010). Baartman was sold as a slave by a trader named Pieter Cezar and taken to England with a promise of getting better fortune (Orgeret, 2016). However, Baartman was used by promoters to make money using exhibitions. The exhibition showed her unique physical appearance that defined black women. The large buttocks made Baartman suitable for entertaining different people coming to the exhibitions. The exhibitions to show her unique features were characterized by sexism and racism. The European guests did not respect her and would frequently touch her big buttocks as a form of entertainment. According to Orgeret (2016), Baartman shows in early 1800 were in London and later in Paris. Baartman’s body was exposed to make sure that the backside and genitalia parts entertain the guests attending the shows. Baartman large buttocks were used for financial gain by promoters. Moji (2017) states that Baartman's body was displayed to viewers when she was alive and when she died in 1815 she was kept in a museum. Her body was studied by feminist scholars and historians to understand the body of a black woman. The body of a black woman has remained a mystery with people judging women of color based on the size of their buttocks or other physical features. Her treatment in European countries is due to her racial and anatomical difference from white women. The visible difference is used by feminist scholars in defining the beauty and ability of a black woman.
Caster Semenya, Serena Williams, and Michelle Obama have experienced judgment due to racial and anatomical differences from white women. According to Orgeret (2016), Semenya became a target of feminist scientists 200 years later after Baartman’s case. Semenya grabbed the media and scientists' attention after winning the World Championship in 2009 for the 800-meters race. Her identity and power were viewed by different people of being less of a normal woman. The gender doubting by media and scientists showed the colonial and postcolonial realities about the black woman. Black women are...