Butts, boobs and sometimes brains

Glenda Simms, Contributor

German philosopher F.W. Nietzsche (1844-1900) is distinguished in the history of western thought by his extensive controversial opinions on most aspects of the human experience. He was particularly caustic in his assessment of the "feminine condition". He, obviously, was one of the leading misogynists of his time, and his iconic position amongst the intelligentsia of his era allowed him to state starkly, his contempt of women.

As I ponder on the growing numbers of reasonably highly-educated contemporary young women who enter beauty pageants, I am forced to recall Nietzsche's famous words, "when a woman inclines to learning, there is usually something wrong with her sex apparatus".

Over the course of history, feminist philosophers, womanists and other female activists have been extremely successful in challenging the dominant ideologies that defined intelligent and learned women as sexless, unattractive and destined to a life of celibacy, childlessness and other prerequisite for the "feminine and desirable one".

All over the modern world, thousands and thousands of young women now walk across the graduating ramps of universities and colleges and accept their degrees in every discipline, including those which were consigned to men in the not too distant past.

mode of enlightenment

The September 1 edition of The Gleaner had the headline, 'I am beautiful' over the byline of Sean A. Bennett, in the Entertainment section of the paper. This eye-catching headline alerted me to the fact that the beauty pageant season had come around, and that the 'prettiest of them all' had been selected to compete in the upcoming Miss World spectacle.

It was in this mode of enlightenment that I decided to read Bennett's article and became aware of the controversy around the selection of 24 year-old Harvard graduate Chantal Raymond as the current Miss Jamaica World.

Apparently, this young woman was being criticised about her looks. In other words, there are many out there who believe that she does not deserve the crown because they have come to the conclusion that she is "ugly".

In Ms. Raymond's words "There is this opinion going around that I'm not attractive ... I don't know why, but I look much better in person than in photograph".

She further elaborated that she has heard that some of her detractors say she has "purpose but not beauty". This assessment of her has come as a shock to Chantal who has "never been called unattractive before".

Trying to deal with this blow to her ego, Ms Raymond would like the naysayers to be more open-minded and to get to know her and sense the power of her personality and warmth and to understand that she tries not only to be "attractive on the outside but on the inside".

This point of view of Chantal is both curious and a bit naïve. Traditionally and currently, beauty pageants have never been about inner beauty. They are about young women's body parts - boobs, butts, washboard tummies and lanky legs. That is why the contestants must parade before the world in bikinis and skimpy bras to show off their bodies. These are all external features. No one cares about the state of the woman's intestines, colon, stomach or any of their essential organs. If these new-age contestants have the combination of brains, boobs and butts, then they might stand a better chance than the stereotypic bimbo (blond and otherwise) who were the majority of those who entered such pageants in the days before the educational revolution of women.

purposeful but not beautiful

As I looked at Chantal Raymond's features, I have come to the conclusion that she is being called purposeful but not beautiful because her features are too African. She has a lovely broad mouth, a big "black people's' nose and the stunning eyes of generations of women who inhabit East, West, South and Northern Africa.

I cannot comment on the long stresses that frame her 'Queen of Sheba' features. Perhaps they are an outcome of the latest designer chemicals, or the fantastic techniques of pasting and integrating other people's hair into her own. On the other hand, it might be the legacy of the historical ethnic 'blendered reality' of our people.

Obviously, the addition of 'purposeful' as a descriptor of Chantal is linked to her childhood goal to become a lawyer. Being a Harvard graduate might also add to her quality of purpose. In other words, brains might be important but in Jamaica, boobs, butts and approximation to Caucasian features are the definition of the truly beautiful.

Beauty contests have been a serious area of discussion over a long period. 1968 marked a historic moment in the staging of the Miss American pageant. Those sisters who were championing the cause of women's liberation from patriarchal runways in all areas of our existence, picketed this pageant which was held in Atlantic City.

These feminists must have rocked the boats of some very powerful men because it is around this event that the 'impossible-to-kill myth of feminist bra burners' was born. Since then, purposeful feminist activists have chosen to ignore these so called beauty spectacles and concentrate on the systemic barriers that still confront women and girls, including the thousands who now have high educational credentials.

At times, environmental groups, peace-seeking activists and womanists of all religions and political persuasions have used alternative approaches to emphasise their opposition to the institutions which continue to objectify and commodify women's body parts.

In line with this view, a recent BBC report on a unique beauty pageant which took place in Angola is relevant. This was a pageant for survivors of exploding landmines. The aim of this initiative was to raise awareness of landmines and to promote a wider range of bodies as beautiful.

In this effort, the organisers of this historic event challenged established conceptions of physical perfection. At the same time, they empowered women who would, under normal conditions, dare not enter or "strut their stuff" over the runways of 'beautidom'.

Perhaps we need to think carefully about the ideas of writer Jill Fillipovic, who, in an article posted on March 23, 2007 reflected on the Miss America pageant of that year as an event which "continues to serve as an indicator of just how far we haven't come".

The local response to Chantal Raymond, the chosen Miss Jamaica World is another "teachable moment" for young bright Black women.

It is still important for these aspiring queens to check with the mirror on a daily basis and learn from the responses of those who think they have a right to quantify and evaluate our body parts.

I am not a supporter of beauty contests but I wish Chantal Raymond well, and I hope that her detractors will be humbled by her success, now and in the future.

Dr Glenda Simms is a consultant on gender issues. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com