Misogynoir and its Effects in Social Media Misogyny has been around for centuries, going back as far as ancient Greece. Aristotle regarded women as “non-equals” and as “incomplete, deformed males” (Ganesh). Women have been struggling with being objectified throughout the years and this persists in the present. Misogyny is defined as “the hatred of women”. Misogynoir is a term meaning “anti-black misogyny” (Jackson) which was coined by Black Feminist Scholar Moya Bailey. This sexist outlook has been in Hip-hop and Rap for years, which has led to a separation of feminism into a subcategory “White Feminism”. It continued to infiltrate social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter, sometimes in the form of comments under pictures or even
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Misogynoir is rampant within black culture, whether its rapped about in songs, or posts on Twitter, or other social media platforms. Black women were not safe from the constant societal scrutiny throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Malcom X gave a speech May 1962 in Los Angeles stating “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman” (Rodriguez). Black woman in today’s society still have to battle with chauvinistic men who attack them through social media. According to a study created by a U.K. think tank Demos, “50 percent of the accounts that are responsible for misogynistic abuse come from women” (Demos). Not only do Black women have to worry about men, they now have to worry about other women putting them down. Misogynoir has even spread towards First Lady Michelle Obama, for …show more content…
Consistently seeing memes or comments that criticize the way Black women look or act can produce depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Trying to fit into this mold of beauty is dangerous; young Black women begin to skin bleach to appear lighter, and begin to hate their natural hair in order to have straight “proper” hair. Some might even begin to eat less, start using “waist trainers” to minimize their waists, or in extreme cases undergo plastic surgery to model after the praised figures social media adores. The beauty standards that society has for Black women is irrational. Black women are told to be “Slim-Thick” which means “A girl with big/toned thighs, plump booty, normal sized hips and a flat/toned stomach” (Defining Anything). When White women have this body type it’s fawned over and praised; but when Black women have this body shape it’s called “fake”. Misogynoir has now made Black women’s body types to be considered ugly and unwanted, which results in Black women putting themselves through extreme makeup phases and sometimes developing body dysmorphia. Black women are now often pressured to have hour glass type figures and slim waists like the
Misogynoir is rampant within black culture, whether its rapped about in songs, or posts on Twitter, or other social media platforms. Black women were not safe from the constant societal scrutiny throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Malcom X gave a speech May 1962 in Los Angeles stating “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman” (Rodriguez). Black woman in today’s society still have to battle with chauvinistic men who attack them through social media. According to a study created by a U.K. think tank Demos, “50 percent of the accounts that are responsible for misogynistic abuse come from women” (Demos). Not only do Black women have to worry about men, they now have to worry about other women putting them down. Misogynoir has even spread towards First Lady Michelle Obama, for …show more content…
Consistently seeing memes or comments that criticize the way Black women look or act can produce depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Trying to fit into this mold of beauty is dangerous; young Black women begin to skin bleach to appear lighter, and begin to hate their natural hair in order to have straight “proper” hair. Some might even begin to eat less, start using “waist trainers” to minimize their waists, or in extreme cases undergo plastic surgery to model after the praised figures social media adores. The beauty standards that society has for Black women is irrational. Black women are told to be “Slim-Thick” which means “A girl with big/toned thighs, plump booty, normal sized hips and a flat/toned stomach” (Defining Anything). When White women have this body type it’s fawned over and praised; but when Black women have this body shape it’s called “fake”. Misogynoir has now made Black women’s body types to be considered ugly and unwanted, which results in Black women putting themselves through extreme makeup phases and sometimes developing body dysmorphia. Black women are now often pressured to have hour glass type figures and slim waists like the