There is tremendous heterogeneity and hierarchy among women of color, and often we see these differences emerge in relation to how their representations are overtly sexualized. In particular, Rojas explores representations of various women of color to understand the historical contexts and forces that help create and maintain these dominant representations. She states that the sexual paradox–the binary system that relies on specifically racialized, sexual “good” girl vs. “bad” girl stereotypes–varies depending on the specific racialized histories of women of color.
Based on this week’s readings, answer these two questions:
1. Referencing Rojas, explore the racialized virgin-whore dichotomy in relation to women of color. To do this, you should choose how African-American/Black women, Asian-American women, Latinas-Chicanas, OR Native/Indigenous women are represented. Most importantly, describe the historical contexts and ideologies that fuel these representations (racism, racial capitalism, Orientalism, paternalism, religious ideology, etc.)?
2. Find and describe two representations of women of color that do not fall within the racialized virgin-whore dichotomy that you described in your response to question 1. You can do this by considering popular media, fictional representations, or any other relevant source. Remember that your choices should be representations/figures rather than real women, i.e. Beyonce’s representation in “Lemonade,” not Beyonce the person. What stereotypes and negative ideologies do these representations clearly reject? What alternative ideologies fuel these representations (feminism, body positivity, queer and trans affirmation, etc.)?
