The History of The African American Woman's Buttocks

I want to share with you some information about how women of color with a large buttocks were viewed during the 1800s-1900s.

Historically, back in the 1800s, African American women with a large bottom were situated in a negative context.  An example of how they were seen in a negative context is the story of Sarah Baartman. She was a South African lady who was brought over to Europe to essentially become the object of scientific and sexual interests based on her large bottom. Her body was exhibited as a freak show attraction and she was forced to be exhibited as a freak in phony and humiliating carnival shows. When she died in 1816, scientist George Cuvier made a plaster of her body, then removed her skeleton, and after removing her brain and genitals, he pickled them and displayed them in bottles at The Musee de L’Homme ( Museum of Man Kind) in Paris. These were displayed in the museum until as late as 1985. In 2002, her remains were finally returned to South Africa where that is now her final resting place.

Sarah Baartman

Now, the history of African American women with a large bottom is changing. These women are no longer being viewed as being in a freak show. That history is forgotten as young African American women engage in receiving butt implants. The Hip Hop industry engages in this discourse, promoting the modification of this type of surgery. Hip Hop artists frequently speak about a special attraction to ladies with large bottoms in their songs, and have ladies with large bottoms showing off their assets in their music videos, getting the chance to play the lead role. Hip Hop artists also brag and about purchasing a woman’s body parts in their songs; helping a woman who doesn't have a large bottom by being able to fit in and be admired. African American models, video vixens and reality shows play a role in supporting butt augmentation surgery and how their confidence has changed since they now have something larger in their rear view. It seems that having a large bottom is a part of the beauty expectations of African American women, which is making this race and generation of women more eager to receive this surgery.

To learn more information about Sarah Baartman, please click on the link attached to this post or on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ7mmMe4klQ