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Alfie Corteza

Professor Bullock

Assignment #3

In Jennifer’s Morgan’s book a standard connection between the female body and racism would be how non-European women were portrayed. A reoccurring theme is the depiction of women of color as barbaric and inhumane as their method of concealing and usage of their breasts were not to the standards of European society.

An example of the European portrayal of colored women would be the description of an African women’s’ large breasts, it was that it seems she had six legs when she bent over. This classification, when told to other individuals, would construct a visual representation that appears as if the women from Africa are not human beings, but some creature with a human form. An example of this kind of derogatory remarks would be the foundation of numerous opinions of many European writers. It is not surprising that an Englishman known as Richard Ligon would make Africans equal to animals based off of their physical features. As a result, when the books of these writers made their way to Europe, European society considered Africans as inhuman. Africans were found to be inhuman well into the mid 19th century in Europe, as they were present in human zoos scattered in Germany, France, and even England.

In addition to being regarded as an animal, women of color were also associated being devilish figures and inconsiderate in regards to the way they fed their children. Women would breastfeed their child by placing their breast on their shoulder towards their back so that the infant may feed. This method of feeding was considered different and improper in the eyes of a European as women in Europe would breastfeed by cradling the baby to their bosom. Europeans also felt their method of feeding the child as inhumane as the constant contact of the child’s’ face to the back of the woman would cause abnormalities to the facial structure of the child. European writers explain that due to the artificial facial reconstructing of the child’s face African women alone caused their entire race to suffer degradation.

As a result, the usage of the female anatomy reinforces racism by differentiating the physical attributes of the breasts and the usage of it in regards to feeding the children. In addition to skin color, etiquette, and cultural differences Europeans used the physical differences between white Europeans and those of color to display who is civilized and who isn’t. Ultimately causing northern Europeans to display superiority, while those who aren’t to be inferior.

My question: If the Europeans considered the Africans and the aboriginals of the Americas to be devils, and inferior to them, why was there miscegenation?

Alfie Corteza
Section 9

In Caliban and the Witch Women, the Body, and Primitive Accumulation, by Silvia Federici, there is a fundamental concept, and it is the degradation of women. It is all caused by the actions of the governments enforcing laws and social rules that place women in numerous predicaments in Europe in the medieval ages.

An example is the portrayal of women as infamous antagonists in rebel activities. Society at the time had thought women had a sense of superiority as there was a belief that they were above the law, and would be protected by their husbands. However, it was quite the opposite in reality as these portrayals of women were debilitating, as misogyny was already on the rise and women faced violence from males. At a time when food and money were difficult to come by, becoming a vagabond, a migrating worker, or a nomad was nearly impossible because of the possibility of having to take care of their pregnancies or having to care for young children. On top of having a difficult time an occupation, females at the time had disadvantages when having a job. At the time female wages were the lowest and was considered a fraction compared to males, and women’s work became separated into its’ section known as “women’s labor” which was thought to be easier and less cumbersome. Ultimately women had no access to earnings resulting in staying in a position of permanent poverty and relying on a male for income.

Another aspect that reveals the unreasonably harsh laws against women would be related to pregnancy. Even though women were considered lesser than the men, society heavily relied upon their one benefit, which was having a uterus and having the possibility to procreate. But what is truly appalling is the fact that the government approved of public spying on women and any wrong doing, and on top of that, society had the power to act as harshly as they wanted for punishment. Some actions would be being excommunicated from a town for years on end, being physically marked, being drowned by tortuous machines, and even life imprisonment. In the end, the woman didn’t receive the gratitude of giving birth to a newborn, but rather the doctor did.

These aspects make the female gender look as if they are a hindrance to society, and are not robust enough to take care of themselves. By making use of women and leaving them with destitute and stripped of any personal rights, it left them with no other choice but to take actions that risked their lives. As a result, those actions would be then placed upon all females and would create a negative portrayal of women.

Alfie Corteza

Dr. Bullock

WGS 10000 Section 09

In chapter 3 of “Women, Race and Class” by Angela Y. Davis, she includes an incident of segregation involving an individual who sided with the abolition movement. This event occurred in the summer of 1848, it included Frederick Douglass’ and his wife’s daughter not being able to take part in an all female seminary. The significance as to why this moment was covered in this chapter was because the person responsible for enforcing the isolation was an abolitionist woman. As the Douglas family protested the segregationist policy, the principal called for a vote if any of the other female students didn’t agree to the integration in the classroom. The result of the dilemma ended with Douglass’ daughter being excluded by only the parent’s vote of the students for exclusion, and interestingly enough not one of the students voted against the integration.

I believe that Davis included this situation as it reveals that even though there were women from the North that were pro anti-slavery, there were still issues regarding internal racism in the gender-equality movement. Davis states, that as a result of this situation, and those that were similar to it, had caused a resolution to be developed by the National Convention of Colored Freedman in 1848, that all women have the same equality (1981, 64). It reveals the flaws of the early stages of the abolitionist campaign, by displaying internal conflicts between genders, and class even though they were fighting for the same thing. It is not only disheartening but also concerning as a person fighting for women’s rights would reveal a position of superiority in regards to race, even though all of the women in the United States were suffering under gender inequality. From what was understood from the reading, the state of the coalition for women equality for all races was in the right direction but had major flaws that needed to be rectified.

Good evening everyone. My name is Alfie Corteza, and I am a first-generation born American, with my parents immigrating from the Philippines. If you haven’t had a clue as to where the Philippines is located, it is approximately an hour flight south of Hong Kong. As of right now, I am in my 1st semester of my Sophomore year and have yet to declare a major. However, I hope whatever I major in is related to automobiles as I have been a fan of motorsports at a very young age.

I signed up for a women’s and gender studies class as it is a core requirement. However, I am interested in the history and development of women’s rights over the United States, and in other countries around the world. What has always peaked my interest is the fact that even though the entire world is in the 21st century, some countries maintain and reinforce barbaric laws over women as if they were possessions rather than humans. As a result of this class, I would like to gain an understanding as to why that is.

It was nice to meet all of you during the first day of WGS class, and I look forward to working with all of you for the rest of the semester.