Race, class, and sexuality, as we have all been taught are heavily intertwined, especially when it comes to the Americas and Europe. Delving deeper into the history of interactions between individuals of different races and social classes during the era of colonization the origins of these ideals surrounding sexuality are made apparent. The degradation of culture as well as the manipulation of sex for the benefit of European colonizers in Hawaii and the rest of the Americas was discovered by the interactions that occurred during the age of exploration. Relationships between African slaves and their white masters also gives insight into the policing of black bodies as well as the significance of race when it comes to the treatment of women.
…show more content…
In the societal hierarchy they were the lowest class and were therefore able to be treated however their master pleased. Slaves were purchased in order to make profit and in many cases bred against their will in order to create more workers in order to yield more profit on the plantation. Roberts’ Reproduction in Bondage explains that not only were female slaves coerced into procreating with other slaves but were also raped by their masters. Although, white men were the main perpetrators of rape between slaves and whites the idea of rape was always tied to the black man and his desires for a white woman as a result of whiteness being linked to purity. Black women on the other hand were labeled as “Jezabels” because they were assumed to promiscuous or “Mammy’s” if they were to repress their sexuality and assume the role of caretaker for their master’s …show more content…
The people of hawaii, differed greatly from the Europeans when it came to their views on gender and sexuality. For example they did not have a strict binary gender classification system, as seen by the Mahu otherwise known as intermediate gender. .As a result of the introduction of Christianity and European thoughts on sexuality, Hawaiian’s namely King Kamehameha adopted a more sexually restrictive philosophy. The creation of the Kapu system, helped to convert the nation to Christianity as well as restrict and regulate the sexual freedom of all natives, especially targeting women. Missionaries who had assisted in bringing the Kapu system to fruition wanted to undermine the hula dance culture as well because it was considered vulgar. This system of introducing European thought while subsequently shaming and putting restrictions on what were considered religious practices ultimately led to a degradation of Hawaiian
In the societal hierarchy they were the lowest class and were therefore able to be treated however their master pleased. Slaves were purchased in order to make profit and in many cases bred against their will in order to create more workers in order to yield more profit on the plantation. Roberts’ Reproduction in Bondage explains that not only were female slaves coerced into procreating with other slaves but were also raped by their masters. Although, white men were the main perpetrators of rape between slaves and whites the idea of rape was always tied to the black man and his desires for a white woman as a result of whiteness being linked to purity. Black women on the other hand were labeled as “Jezabels” because they were assumed to promiscuous or “Mammy’s” if they were to repress their sexuality and assume the role of caretaker for their master’s …show more content…
The people of hawaii, differed greatly from the Europeans when it came to their views on gender and sexuality. For example they did not have a strict binary gender classification system, as seen by the Mahu otherwise known as intermediate gender. .As a result of the introduction of Christianity and European thoughts on sexuality, Hawaiian’s namely King Kamehameha adopted a more sexually restrictive philosophy. The creation of the Kapu system, helped to convert the nation to Christianity as well as restrict and regulate the sexual freedom of all natives, especially targeting women. Missionaries who had assisted in bringing the Kapu system to fruition wanted to undermine the hula dance culture as well because it was considered vulgar. This system of introducing European thought while subsequently shaming and putting restrictions on what were considered religious practices ultimately led to a degradation of Hawaiian