“More than 900, 000 African American visited cosmetic surgeons in 2008 for buttock enhancements, liposuction and other body-beautifying procedures”- Essence Magazine June 2009.
When I read this I almost dropped the magazine. As I went to rescue the half of the magazine that had slipped from my hands, I realized something else slipped from our grasp. Although the black beauty standard has changed over the years from a willowing waif like Diana Ross to kamikaze curvaceous Beyonce, the desperation to emulate has not ceased. The stereotypical voluminous backside that was once put up on display at freak shows (Saara Baartman) is now a commodity that our women (and even members of the Trans community) are willing to pay a doctor a minimum of $5000, or a black market hustler $500 to obtain. Who are these enhancements benefiting? Well the recipient of the implants or injections, feels better that the pockets on their jeans no longer touch and that their popularity rate with the opposite sex increases. They can proudly pick out a pair of apple bottom jeans and fill that sucker out, or they can pursue a career as a video girl and audition to be on the cover of King magazine- Oopps they cease to exist! (The magazine folded in April)
Now, I wrote a few weeks back about the perceptions of black women. I received quite the comment beat down in regards to my view that black female celebrities formulate the perception of black women, and lately, with the exception of the first lady and a few others, that perception is often negative. A few wrote that they do not look up to celebrities and do not try to emulate them, yet I come across a statistic of 900,000 (that’s only legal) cosmetic procedures being done in our communities. Are we in denial? Maybe.
I’m not anti-nip n’ tuck; yet it is not something I would ever consider. I am not stacked like the average video chick, but that’s cool. I’m healthy, fit and when I look in the mirror for the most part I’m in love. Sure I get those days and moments where I want to throw my mirror out the window, wave a magic wand and make my goodies pop a little more, but that’s life, and its’ too short for me to be fussing and fighting internally.
Are these stats shocking to anyone out there beside myself? Fellas, would you encourage your partner to go under the knife, if she wanted to enhance her goodness? Ladies, do you feel the pressure or have an interest to enhance your sexy?
I’m good with whatever endowments my woman has. I love a woman who is comfortable in her own shell and is confident to rock out with what she was blessed with. Not to say a woman who goes under the knife doesn’t have confidence, but I feel that she must have some insecurities towards her appearance if she went that far. That said, I’d still rock with my wifey regardless of her decision; however, I’d prefer she just get a Wonderbra and a pair of jeans that makes that booty pop.
Also, I think in this sense we’re falling behind mainstream media. Now American pop culture is looking for a more natural look and less of the Barbie plastic. Even Playboy has been moving back in this direction. Or so I’ve heard… Anyway, I’m sure once Black culture is over saturated with fake booties and breasts, our media machine will be doing the same and in turn our ladies won’t be beat over the head with coke bottle images and feel the need to get plastic surgery.
I have the same Essence mag and was astonished too, mostly at the butt enhancement. I personally have been interested in liposuction of my abdomen. I’ve been a dancer since I was two and with daily dance practices, working out, I’ve never had a flat tummy. NEVER. Before I had my son I was a size 8 and after his birth I was a size 4 (lucky me) still with a tummy. It’s the only part of my body I’ve worked on forever and it just won’t go away. I’ve rededicated myself to working it out specifically because I would prefer not to go under the knife. Never had a bf to complain though.
It’s not even about looking good for someone else, my friends say for a quiet person I have I am the most conceited. Loosing my tummy is more about being comfortable in some of the things I wear, it’s irritating when I get full and have to unbutton my jeans lol. I know, TMI. But considering that I hate spending money, I’ll never pay for liposuction. I hate pain too.
@ Seattle: As long as Black men (some not all) keep swooning about a big ass and these video vixens, insecure Black women will continue to do what they can to get that attention. It’s sad. I’m the black chick with no ass, seriously… well maybe some small curvature… and Beyonce and Lola can keep that to themselves. It’s not just media that needs to change, it’s the perception that needs to change at home and in our communities first. Teaching young women how to appreciate who they are and to love themselves first no matter what.
Honestly i may glance at and ogle at the girl with the big booty. I have never really dated one..lol.. its cool to look at i guess..i just like them slim i can’t call it. I think women should be comfortable with who they are honestly at the end of the day. If i’m with a girl i’m with your for who you are and that is it. Now if you want to change something about you, i will tell you that you are ok the way you are. At the end of the day i would support whatever decision you choose to make you happy.
Reign is right people tend to get caught up in the things they see sometimes. The media don’t really help and often add more fuel to fire.
That’s right girl, you better schoolem’ to Saara Baartman!! So many people don’t even know who she is……
G.I., Excellent Blog Girl!!!!
Forever Fabulous,
The Single Dame
Good Blog G.I!
I know many confident black women who either want changes done or have actually gone under the knife (!). Mostly for boob jobs, but I’ve never known anyone who received butt injections. I definitely think the media/music videos/the music industry and ourselves force this image of the sexy Black woman down our throats and a lot of women are left in the dark when trying to figure out where they fit it. So while this statistic does not surprise me, it is still pretty sad…
I found shcollective.com very informative. The article is professionally written and I feel like the author knows the subject very well. shcollective.com keep it that way.
A BIG BOOTY IS TO AFRICA WHAT RICE IS TO CHINA! I LOVE BIG CHOCOLATE BOOTIES.
Im really wishing that i read this article months ago when it was written…..
I consider myself a “booty” connoisseur amongst my travels in and out of this country, i have come across a multitude of “booties.” I have also noticed that over the time the acceptance of the “big booty.” I think we have Jennifer Lopez to thank for mainstream societies acceptance of the “booty”. During the late 90’s Jlo was the front-runner of “booties” in the media. White women began to embrace their backsides as opposed to be ashamed of their backsides! It was a JOYOUS time! JOY TO THE WORLD, and the BOOTY! hahaha Ladies Be Proud of the booty, as im walking down the street, i may take a glance!
Most importantly on a serious note, be happy with who you are, i am in no way suggesting you pay thousands of dollars for surgeries to alter your body for acceptance by those around you. The Real you is Ultimately important, above all else…
Peace
[...] Original article here. [...]
i've first came in contact with my favouring of big bootys when I'd been together with my current gf for 6 months. It's strange, i had never thought about it, but when I noticed how much I grabbed her whenever she wore- no, wait, never she was near me actually:P
When i thought about it, I could recall several times through my years at school when I'd oogled at different girls' butts, and it wasn't until then I understood I'd always been an "assman":P
So you could say I got double-lucky, first I'm together with a girl I really love, and then she got a really big butt too and she enjoys when at I marvel at it:3
after seen this please i need to see some more if any body have web adress of some pic like this please send to me
good morning, excellant article.
I absolutely adore j-lo