Sexual exploitation dehumanized black women more than labor exploitation did

Evidence

By flaunting their sexual lust for the bodies of black women and their preference for them as sexual partners, white men successfully pitted white women and enslaved black women against one another. In most instances, the white mistress did not envy the black female slave her role as sexual object; she feared only that her newly acquired social status might be threatened by white male sexual interaction with black women. His sexual involvement with black women (even if that involvement was rape) in effect reminded the white female of her subordinate position in relationship to him. For he could exercise his power as racial imperialist and sexual imperialist to rape or seduce black women, while white women were not free to rape or seduce black men without fear of punishment. Though the white female might condemn the actions of a white male who chose to interact sexually with black female slaves, she was unable to dictate to him proper behavior. Nor could she retaliate by engaging in sexual relationships with enslaved or free black men. Not surprisingly, she directed her anger and rage at the enslaved black women. — bell hooks, Ain’t I a Woman_ Black Women and…, 451 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Feminism must combat domination across sex, race, and class, not just male chauvinism — bell hooks, Ain’t I a Woman_ Black Women and…, 562; Black women suffered quadruple exploitation as laborers, domestic workers, breeders, and rape targets; Nineteenth century black women were the most sexist-oppressed female group in America (+13 more)

Related

• Black women’s exploitation is better described as masculinization than black men’s de-masculinization. (similarity 0.90)
• Sexism made the black female slave’s lot harsher than the male’s (similarity 0.90)
• Black men asserted dominance over women to compensate for losing to white men (similarity 0.89)
• Black women suffered quadruple exploitation as laborers, domestic workers, breeders, and rape targets (similarity 0.89)
• Black women bore the brunt of slave-ship terror because they could not retaliate (similarity 0.89)
• Sexism and racism together intensified black women’s oppression beyond black men’s. (similarity 0.88)
• Nineteenth century black women were the most sexist-oppressed female group in America (similarity 0.88)
• Labeling black women as sexual savages enabled their rapes by denying their humanity. (similarity 0.88)
• White mistresses often punished rather than protected sexually exploited slave women (similarity 0.88)
• Devaluation of black womanhood licensed exploitation and prostitution (similarity 0.88)
• Rape of black women was ignored because they were seen as sexually permissive (similarity 0.88)
• Sexism and racism were twin oppressive forces in black women’s slave experience (similarity 0.88)
• Institutionalized sexism protected black male sexuality while legitimizing black female assault (similarity 0.88)
• White male sexual power over slaves redirected white women’s anger onto black women (similarity 0.87)
• Sexual exploitation of black women continued and was institutionalized after slavery. (similarity 0.87)

Broader Connections

• Sexism and racism were twin oppressive forces in black women’s slave experience #expands (0.70)
• Rape of black women was ignored because they were seen as sexually permissive #expands (0.65)
• White male sexual power over slaves redirected white women’s anger onto black women #corroborates (0.65) — bell hooks, Ain’t I a Woman_ Black Women and…, 451
• Enslaved black women shared racial status with men but faced sexist subordination #qualifies (0.60) — bell hooks, Ain’t I a Woman_ Black Women and…, 150
• White mistresses often punished rather than protected sexually exploited slave women #corroborates (0.50)