Which impact does the gaze used in "Coconut" have on the concept of Othering and in particular on the westernized beauty concept of black women after Apartheid?
Kopano Matlwa's novel "Coconut" which was firstly published in 2007 is about two black girls, Fikile and Ofilwe, who want to be “white, rich and happy”. Both girls struggle to find their own identity since they are stuck between two worlds, namely the South African and the Western one which have an impact on the perception of the two main characters. The novel is divided into two parts. The first half of the book is narrated by Ofilwe and the second half by Fikile. Both girls live in Johannesburg. Although their lives seem to be completely different, they have one important aspect in common. In contrast to Ofilwe, Fikile is poor and lives with her abusive uncle in a township. Ofilwe lives with her wealthy family in a suburb. The only place where they meet is the restaurant Silver Spoon - Fikile's workplace. Ofilwe and her family have “the same Silver Spoon's Traditional English Breakfast every Sunday” and since Fikile works there, both girls know each other. In brief, the summary of this novel is the black female's struggle to find her identity in post-Apartheid. It is difficult for these women and young girls to know their identity as they are influenced by the western culture and its beauty standard. Furthermore, not only does the western influence play an important role in Coconut, so does gaze. According to the Oxford Dictionary, gaze is either a “steady intent look” or in literary theory, “a particular perspective considered as embodying certain aspects of the relationship between observer and observed”. In this paper, the second definition of gaze is relevant. The concept of gaze is divided into three observer perspectives. With respect to black females, the first perspective is the one of white people looking at black women.
Table of Contents
1. Cover
2. Table of Contents
3. Introduction
4. Body
4.1 Media's impact on the self-concept of black females
4.2 Black females associate wealth with a white skin color only
4.3 Being white offers more advantages than being black and rich does
4.4 Black females refuse to accept black women in their circle of friends
4.5 Westernized black women are othering non-westernized Blacks
4.6 Black and white men seek westernized beauty in searching for a partner
4.7 The eternalized Other as a current subject in post-Apartheid
5. Conclusion
6. Works Cited
7. Declaration
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This paper examines how the concept of the "gaze" within Kopano Matlwa's novel Coconut influences the process of Othering and shapes the internalized, westernized beauty standards imposed upon black women in post-Apartheid South Africa.
- The impact of media-driven, westernized beauty standards on the self-perception of black females.
- The psychological link between white skin color, perceived wealth, and social status.
- The role of Othering and the reproduction of racist behaviors within assimilated black communities.
- The influence of the "gaze" across three perspectives: white observers, self-gazing, and peer-to-peer assessment.
- The persistence of the "eternalized Other" as a societal structure long after the official end of Apartheid.
Excerpt from the Book
Media's impact on the self-concept of black females
Firstly, the media focuses on white stars which influences black women by conveying them that being white is the only standard of beauty every woman should strive for. This seeming beauty standard in “media [has negative] effects on the self- concept” (Milkie 190). At its worst, it makes black women mentally disordered. Those females feel less confident and dissatisfied with themselves. Therefore, they change their appearance in order to fit to this unreachable standard. Because of this change, those females have more poise. Thus, “the central position of media in everyday life [and the] unrealistic beauty images” (Milkie 191) in the media are a toxic mixture for young black females. Media are everywhere. Media, such as magazines, the internet with social networks and websites, advertisements, poster and the television, are consciously and even unconsciously perceived by people all over the world all too often. Since people's “access and exposure to contemporary [...] media seem extraordinary” (Roberts 9), it appears clear now that black women are always exposed to “unrealistic appearance in media imagery” (Milkie 205). Even people who cannot afford a television, a mobile phone or a computer are affected. Those people either buy cheap magazines or they experience media in public places through posters and images unknowingly. According to Yan and Bissell, women are harmed by public images as they suffer from “syndromes such as body image distortion and appearance anxiety” (Botta et.al., quoted in Yan and Bissell 196) et cetera. Those mental diseases have a strong impact on females' behavior. As a result, women and in particular black ones tend to modify their appearance since they feel “more uncertain about themselves” (Henderson-King 413).
Summary of Chapters
3. Introduction: Introduces the novel Coconut, defines the core terminology (gaze, Othering, Apartheid), and establishes the research focus on identity struggle.
4. Body: Explores the multifaceted pressures on the protagonists through media influence, the pursuit of western beauty, and the resulting alienation from their own community.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes how the internal and external gazes perpetuate the status of black women as the "eternalized Other" in post-Apartheid society.
Keywords
Coconut, Othering, Gaze, Apartheid, Identity, Black Women, Westernization, Beauty Standards, Self-perception, Post-colonialism, Assimilation, Media Influence, Social Capital, South Africa, Racism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the struggle for identity among black women in post-Apartheid South Africa, as depicted through the characters Ofilwe and Fikile in the novel Coconut.
What are the central thematic areas discussed?
The core themes include the impact of western beauty standards, the psychological consequences of the "gaze," the practice of Othering, and the intersection of race, wealth, and social status.
What is the main research question?
The paper asks how the "gaze" represented in Coconut affects the concept of Othering and specifically influences the westernized beauty perceptions of black women after Apartheid.
Which scientific approach is utilized?
The author uses a literary analysis of Kopano Matlwa's novel, supported by sociological theories regarding racism, media effects, and identity construction in post-colonial contexts.
What topics are covered in the body of the work?
The body covers the influence of media, the association of wealth with whiteness, the rejection of other black individuals, and how both white and black men contribute to the Othering of black women.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Coconut, Othering, Gaze, Apartheid, Identity, Westernization, and Beauty Standards.
How does the media specifically impact the protagonists?
The media presents white women as the sole standard of beauty, which leads the protagonists to feel dissatisfied with their own appearance and results in them using dangerous aids like skin-lighteners.
Why do the protagonists feel the need to distance themselves from other black people?
Because they have assimilated white societal views, they perceive their own ethnic group as inferior and hope that by distancing themselves, they can align more closely with the dominant white culture.
What does the term "eternalized Other" imply?
It refers to the systemic and generational persistence of treating black people as subordinates, suggesting that even after legal segregation has ended, cultural racism continues to exclude them.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2016, Westernized Beauty Concept of Apartheid. Which impact does the gaze used in "Coconut" have on the concept of Othering?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/537474
