Siena Stanislaus
Erin Kelly
Exposition & Argument
Research Paper Outline
17 November 2016
All throughout history, and still today, it is common for cultures to embrace myriad social imbalances. Such inequalities develop from incredibly diverse bodies of people, a cultural aspect evident within the American population. Of these social disparities, discrimination on the basis of sex continues to affect the way so many Americans live daily. Women in particular face countless hardship simply due to their natural physicality. This imbalance on the basis of sex assists in the enforcement of societal values on intangible concepts, such as virginity and femininity. These values provoke women to feel uncomfortable when expressing their sexuality. As Leslie Bell discusses in her essay “Selections from Hard to Get: Twenty-Something Women and the Paradox of Sexual Freedom,” women are continually given contradictory directives regarding how sexually involved they should be. Women are encouraged to be sexually explorative in their youth, however consistently reminded to get married before it is too late. While Bell effortfully acknowledges multiple aspects of a woman, including age, religious background, and socioeconomic status, she, like many others, does fail to analyze race as an influential factor. While the values embraced by society affect different types of women in different ways, I argue that it is the racial/ ethnic background of a woman which most strongly dictates how she is able to express sexuality. Within this research document, I will focus on the influence that the racial/ ethnic background has on women during experiences of sexual assault. There are barriers that women of color specifically face, that white women do not, simply because of their racial and ethnic background. Particularly in regards to sexuality and acts of sexual violence against them, there are considerations that women of color have that may contribute to the discomfort she may feel specifically when deciding whether or not to report acts of sexual assault. These barriers correlate directly to her identity within an oppressed racial group. Such considerations, as described by Nicole Pietsch in her essay “I’m Not That Kind of Girl,” include the way women of color are portrayed by society as ‘exotic’ and sexually promiscuous. This affects the extent to which she will be accepted as a victim within the courtroom. Other considerations include, as described by Marcia Gillespie in her article “What’s Good for the Race?” the racially internalized pressure women of color face particularly when their assailant is of their same race. Already a part of an oppressed group those within that community may criticize them and label them as traitors for acknowledging social issues within that body of people. These are just two barriers faced solely by women of color that may cause hesitation while deciding to report acts of sexual violence. This research document aims to acknowledge that while the societal standards and conceptions of women do impact women as a whole, there are aspects of intersectionality, particularly race/ ethnic background, that contribute to the level of discomfort women of color feel while deciding to report acts of sexual violence against them. This research document will argue the extent to which the racial/ ethnic background of a woman affect the level of discomfort when deciding to report, and why exactly it is necessary to distinguish between these two groups of women, specifically during experiences involving sexual violence.
It is important to acknowledge the modern struggles faced by women as a whole. Particularly regarding sexual expression, women of the twenty-first century are given contradictory directives in terms of how aggressive they should be when initiating sex. Bell discusses how “women hear they ought to spend their twenties being sexually experimental, but only to a point. There is a fine line between being experimental and being a slut” (Bell 27). Such encouragements come from a multitude of sources including social media outlets, television shows, and a woman’s peers. As she includes multiple narratives of real-life women who she interviewed, Bell describes how such contrast leaves women feeling especially conflicted when deciding what it is they truly want. Upon interviewing these women she provides descriptions that include age, race, gender, religion, and socioeconomic status (Bell 36). However, while explaining the challenges these women face while expressing sexuality, she does not include race as a primary contributor. Within one of her explanations for an interviewee, Alicia, “for women from impoverished and working-class backgrounds, being a good girl is often a mark of distinction from their peers”
The over sexualization within the media affects women of all kinds. Through the development of many social constructs, like virginity and many beauty standards, women have constantly been objectified and expected to meet unattainable physical expectations. It is important to recognize, however, that such social constructs affect different types of women in unique ways. Specifically, the development of societies predetermines ‘victim standard’ has affected women of all kinds. The victim standard regards the standard that women must meet in order to be believed by society as a victim, specifically in situations involving sexual assault (Pietsch 136). These standards involving society’s preconceived notions of femininity directly affect where we feel it is appropriate to place blame and feel guilty. however, the consistent sexual degradation uniquely affects women of color. Historically and still today through the media, women of color are portrayed as sexually promiscuous and exotic in nature.
After analyzing the presence of such pressures placed on women of color while deciding whether or not they will report acts of sexual violence, it is necessary that we question why these particular racial groups suffer forms of additional burden. We must ask ourselves why vivid and distinct dialogue regarding race is necessary while discussing acts of sexual violence. It is no coincidence that these additional pressures are prevalent solely within oppressed bodies of people. To be a part of an oppressed racial group will influence aspects of a person’s identity as vast as his or her statistically predetermined low socioeconomic status, but also as specific as the comfort level he, but more particularly she, may feel while deciding whether or not she will report acts of sexual violence. Through definitive discussion and acknowledgment of such struggles, we as a society would be able to provide validation of these feelings and discomfort that women of color feel. To continue the discussion which fails to acknowledge these barriers will only assist in the continuation of this type of oppression. To discuss sexual assault without acknowledging the various implications of social constructs on women in specified racial groups is to treat it with unequal concern. Such a form of discussion is exclusive within an issue, such as sexual violence, in which inclusion is necessary. That form of discussion is unaccepting and unwelcoming within an issue where acceptance and support are of extreme priority.
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