What is Sexual Dominance?
Sexual dominance is the dominance within a relationship of one person over the other due to sexuality, exploitation of the body, or promiscuity.
"All black women are affected by the widespread controlling image that African-American women are sexually promiscuous." -Black Feminist Thought (p. 143)
Sexual Dominance in the Black Community
"Contemporary sexual politics in the United States present African American women and men with a complicated problem. From the display of Sarah Bartmann as a sexual "freak" of nature in the early nineteenth century to Josephine Baker dancing bare-breasted for Parisian society to the animal-skin bikinis worn by "bootylicious" Destiny's Child to the fascination with Jennifer Lopez's buttocks, women of African American descent have been associated with an animalistic, "wild" sexuality....Black men have their own variety of racial difference, also constructed from ideas about violence and dangerous sexuality" (Collins, 27)
There were multiple instances of stereotypes involving sexual dominance found within our survey results when we surveyed 50 college students. The following quotes are examples of this:
When asked, "Do you believe that the media portrays any of these dominances as more specific to certain races? If yes, please provide an example of the specific race/dominance relationship."
Some of the responses were as follows.
-"Black males are portrayed as potentially violent and sexually aggressive. Latina females are portrayed as either teasing or using sexual nature to get what she wants."
-"Think that a lot of music today shows a strong sexual dominance schema - particularly when showing black men and women. Most rap videos seem to show multiple black women fawning over and being degraded by black men."
From these quotes it is obvious that a common stereotype is that black men are more sexually dominant, often in a violent manor. This ties directly to Black Sexual Politics and the stereotypes presented by Collins. It is also stated that Latina females are portrayed as sexually dominant by utilizing their sexuality to get what they want.
There were multiple instances of stereotypes involving sexual dominance found within our survey results when we surveyed 50 college students. The following quotes are examples of this:
When asked, "Do you believe that the media portrays any of these dominances as more specific to certain races? If yes, please provide an example of the specific race/dominance relationship."
Some of the responses were as follows.
-"Black males are portrayed as potentially violent and sexually aggressive. Latina females are portrayed as either teasing or using sexual nature to get what she wants."
-"Think that a lot of music today shows a strong sexual dominance schema - particularly when showing black men and women. Most rap videos seem to show multiple black women fawning over and being degraded by black men."
From these quotes it is obvious that a common stereotype is that black men are more sexually dominant, often in a violent manor. This ties directly to Black Sexual Politics and the stereotypes presented by Collins. It is also stated that Latina females are portrayed as sexually dominant by utilizing their sexuality to get what they want.
Sexual Dominance in Break Any Woman Down
Break Any Woman Down showcased many different forms of sexual dominance. The exampleS that seemed to be most prominent would be the short stories "Break Any Woman Down" and "Clay's Thinking."
1. "Break Any Woman Down"- "Break Any Woman Down" is a short story about a stripper named La Donna who meets a man named Bobby while working one night. They start a relationship but Bobby is not comfortable with her continuing to strip while she is his girl, although Bobby himself acts in the adult film industry. Sexual dominance can be seen throughout the movie due to the power that La Donna's sexuality holds, even when she doesn't want it to and she wants to be appreciated for much more than that. Her sexuality also holds power when it comes to Bobby's friend Frankie, and ultimately leads to the demise of her relationship with Bobby.
"'Bobby' I said. I was on my knees and he was standing in front of me....'Tell me something about me you like, other than my body, my tits'" (p.37)
"Bobby's honey eyes kept moving from my face to the space between my legs, back and forth, still working that jaw like he felt like throwing me out or fucking me." (p. 58)
2. "Clay's Thinking"- "Clay's Thinking" is a short story about a white man named Clay who is dating a black woman named Mirabella. Mirabella is also in a relationship with another man named Hank, who is very wealthy. Sexual dominance is seen throughout this story because although Mirabella does not give Clay what he needs in a relationship, he is so sexually enthralled with her that he can't get enough. Mirabella knows this and utilizes her sexuality in order to keep him around.
This can be seen throughout the story.
“She’s all pulling up my shirt and junk, rubbing my belly, saying, “Please,” kissing me on the tip of my ear. I know this girl’s used to getting everything she wants.” (p. 91)
–“But I’m whipped too. I’m not even going to front like I ain’t. But this time, after we fool around, I really want her to stay. (...) She keeps getting dressed like she ain’t heard me.” (p. 98)”
1. "Break Any Woman Down"- "Break Any Woman Down" is a short story about a stripper named La Donna who meets a man named Bobby while working one night. They start a relationship but Bobby is not comfortable with her continuing to strip while she is his girl, although Bobby himself acts in the adult film industry. Sexual dominance can be seen throughout the movie due to the power that La Donna's sexuality holds, even when she doesn't want it to and she wants to be appreciated for much more than that. Her sexuality also holds power when it comes to Bobby's friend Frankie, and ultimately leads to the demise of her relationship with Bobby.
"'Bobby' I said. I was on my knees and he was standing in front of me....'Tell me something about me you like, other than my body, my tits'" (p.37)
"Bobby's honey eyes kept moving from my face to the space between my legs, back and forth, still working that jaw like he felt like throwing me out or fucking me." (p. 58)
2. "Clay's Thinking"- "Clay's Thinking" is a short story about a white man named Clay who is dating a black woman named Mirabella. Mirabella is also in a relationship with another man named Hank, who is very wealthy. Sexual dominance is seen throughout this story because although Mirabella does not give Clay what he needs in a relationship, he is so sexually enthralled with her that he can't get enough. Mirabella knows this and utilizes her sexuality in order to keep him around.
This can be seen throughout the story.
“She’s all pulling up my shirt and junk, rubbing my belly, saying, “Please,” kissing me on the tip of my ear. I know this girl’s used to getting everything she wants.” (p. 91)
–“But I’m whipped too. I’m not even going to front like I ain’t. But this time, after we fool around, I really want her to stay. (...) She keeps getting dressed like she ain’t heard me.” (p. 98)”
Sexual Dominance in the Media
Sexuality and its dominance can be easily seen through out today's popular media. Not only is it relevant to Break Any Woman Down but it is also something that can be seen in all of our daily lives and in the world around us.
As stated in our survey results, current music videos show a strong sexual dominance schema where black men have sexual power over their female counterparts.
As stated in our survey results, current music videos show a strong sexual dominance schema where black men have sexual power over their female counterparts.
_A very relevant example of sexual
dominance in the media was seen in this last season of The Bachelor. The
Bachelor, which had 15 million viewers for its finale, showcased a
woman named Courtney who fought among 25 other women for the love of one
man. Courtney was known for using her sexuality and her body to keep
the bachelor wanting her and choosing her. Many believe she used her
sexuality to control others. This is important because of what it means
to it's viewers. Courtney's actions reinforce the idea that using
sexuality as a dominance is effective and acceptable.
|
|
In the film Love and Other Drugs the main character Jamie uses is his sexuality to allure women and charm them, ultimately furthering his success in the field of pharmaceutical sales. He meets his match when he comes across a woman named Maggie who doesn't fall for his tricks and uses her sexuality for her own reasons. This is another relevant example of sexual dominance in a relationship. This movie was released in 2010 and has grossed over $32,000,000. It is yet another relevant example of sexual dominance in relationships as portrayed in modern media. |