00:55
Faizan
Kim Kardashian's post-baby selfie made headline news. Much of the attention was focused on the size of her rear end. Why is this news worthy and what is with America's butt craze? Songs are written about big butts, dresses and jeans are made to accentuate it and women are now flocking to plastic surgeons for implants. How important is it to have a large behind? Nikki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez would be just as talented if they had flat behinds. So how important can it be to have a plump rump? Even my husband, the Puerto Rican Clark Kent and a very reserved angel, surprised me with a mischievous smile when asked if he likes big butts.
Evolutionary anthropologists have theorized that large behinds developed in parts of Africa to store fat. A sufficient amount of fat has to be present in a woman's body in order for ovulation to occur. We hear of female competitive athletes, such as runners, failing to menstruate when they lose too much body fat. No ovulation, no menstruation. A big butt may be primal and represent fertility. The sight of it may make men think of mating (subconsciously, I hope). I'm certain that modern men are not contemplating University degrees or whether or not a woman can spell her own name at the sight of an enormous rear. The sight of Kim Kardashian's selfie did not make him wonder if she was a Rhodes Scholar. After all, she is not showing off her stamp collection, an essay on urban blight or a dissertation on the Middle East Crisis. Kim is showing off her big heinie! It's a power play. She understands its sexual power and she is playing her hand.
As a matchmaker, my service was based on finding soul mates for marriage-minded single professionals. My female clients faced a particular dilemma. Although most were well educated, had successful careers and were reasonably attractive, they had difficulty finding love. I believe that despite the mandate for modern women to fulfill the aspirations of the feminist movement the role of evolution and human biology can't be minimized. We are still doing a primitive mating dance whether we want to or not. The power of a smile, bat of the eye, and killer walk can't be overlooked when trying to capture a big papi.
One can't discuss big butts without discussing Sarah Baartman, the "Hottentot Venus". Sarah was a South African woman who lived in the early 1800's. She was sold into slavery, sent to Europe and paraded around in freak shows and scientific exhibitions. She was exploited because of the color of her skin and because of the size of her buttocks. Her story is horrific. It is one of dehumanization and sexual exploitation. Books and movies chronicle her life story. However, I was startled one day to see a post on Facebook that included a photo of Sarah Baartman. Someone had used Photoshop to juxtapose her image next to scantily clothed big bootied video vixens. I was struck dumb. Evolution and biology is one thing, exploitation and objectification is another.
It could be argued that this is like comparing apples and oranges. After all, Sarah was powerless and entertainers clearly have a choice. Would anyone determine that Dolly Parton is exploited for branding herself as a big bosomed woman? Absolutely not. What we do know is that Kim Kardashian and her selfies and Nikki and Jennifer with their gyrating rumps are whistling a happy tune all the way to the bank. When it comes to the big butt thing, women with small (not flat) behinds, like myself, can only speculate.
Evolutionary anthropologists have theorized that large behinds developed in parts of Africa to store fat. A sufficient amount of fat has to be present in a woman's body in order for ovulation to occur. We hear of female competitive athletes, such as runners, failing to menstruate when they lose too much body fat. No ovulation, no menstruation. A big butt may be primal and represent fertility. The sight of it may make men think of mating (subconsciously, I hope). I'm certain that modern men are not contemplating University degrees or whether or not a woman can spell her own name at the sight of an enormous rear. The sight of Kim Kardashian's selfie did not make him wonder if she was a Rhodes Scholar. After all, she is not showing off her stamp collection, an essay on urban blight or a dissertation on the Middle East Crisis. Kim is showing off her big heinie! It's a power play. She understands its sexual power and she is playing her hand.
As a matchmaker, my service was based on finding soul mates for marriage-minded single professionals. My female clients faced a particular dilemma. Although most were well educated, had successful careers and were reasonably attractive, they had difficulty finding love. I believe that despite the mandate for modern women to fulfill the aspirations of the feminist movement the role of evolution and human biology can't be minimized. We are still doing a primitive mating dance whether we want to or not. The power of a smile, bat of the eye, and killer walk can't be overlooked when trying to capture a big papi.
One can't discuss big butts without discussing Sarah Baartman, the "Hottentot Venus". Sarah was a South African woman who lived in the early 1800's. She was sold into slavery, sent to Europe and paraded around in freak shows and scientific exhibitions. She was exploited because of the color of her skin and because of the size of her buttocks. Her story is horrific. It is one of dehumanization and sexual exploitation. Books and movies chronicle her life story. However, I was startled one day to see a post on Facebook that included a photo of Sarah Baartman. Someone had used Photoshop to juxtapose her image next to scantily clothed big bootied video vixens. I was struck dumb. Evolution and biology is one thing, exploitation and objectification is another.
It could be argued that this is like comparing apples and oranges. After all, Sarah was powerless and entertainers clearly have a choice. Would anyone determine that Dolly Parton is exploited for branding herself as a big bosomed woman? Absolutely not. What we do know is that Kim Kardashian and her selfies and Nikki and Jennifer with their gyrating rumps are whistling a happy tune all the way to the bank. When it comes to the big butt thing, women with small (not flat) behinds, like myself, can only speculate.
Posted in: arts
