RECANT: Black Women Less Attractive than Other Women

Image found at: http://amarudontv.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/black_woman_face2.jpg

Four months after Satoshi Kanazawa made inflammatory and poorly supported statements that black women are less physically attractive than other women, he has issued a mea culpa. According to the Times Higher Education, Kanazawa admits that he made serious mistakes in his data analysis and regrets publishing his infamous blog (http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=417449&c=1).

When Kanazawa's blog was first published on Psychology Today's website back in May of this year, I blogged about it for several days (http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/05/psychology-today-apologizes.html). It was and still is amazing to me how "academic" research can be used to support harmful, oppressive personal beliefs that some individuals may hold.

This morning, I'm feeling quite ambivalent about the recent recant. On one hand I'm thrilled that the flawed research has been brought to light. On the other hand, I'm saddened that freedom of expression is the argument used to veil flawed research that denigrates an entire demographic category, especially since that demographic category has been historically (and is currently) devalued in society.

Kudos to the group of scholars who took issue with the shoddy research and did not stand down until the London School of Economics sanctioned Kanazawa. He still has a job but I bet he'll think twice before he uses data to support his faulty logic.

Thanks to JS for sending me the article early this morning! :)

RECANT: Black Women Less Attractive than Other Women

Image found at: http://amarudontv.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/black_woman_face2.jpg

Four months after Satoshi Kanazawa made inflammatory and poorly supported statements that black women are less physically attractive than other women, he has issued a mea culpa. According to the Times Higher Education, Kanazawa admits that he made serious mistakes in his data analysis and regrets publishing his infamous blog (http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=417449&c=1).

When Kanazawa's blog was first published on Psychology Today's website back in May of this year, I blogged about it for several days (http://tropie7189.blogspot.com/2011/05/psychology-today-apologizes.html). It was and still is amazing to me how "academic" research can be used to support harmful, oppressive personal beliefs that some individuals may hold.

This morning, I'm feeling quite ambivalent about the recent recant. On one hand I'm thrilled that the flawed research has been brought to light. On the other hand, I'm saddened that freedom of expression is the argument used to veil flawed research that denigrates an entire demographic category, especially since that demographic category has been historically (and is currently) devalued in society.

Kudos to the group of scholars who took issue with the shoddy research and did not stand down until the London School of Economics sanctioned Kanazawa. He still has a job but I bet he'll think twice before he uses data to support his faulty logic.

Thanks to JS for sending me the article early this morning! :)

Objective Beauty- Ladies Embrace Your Authentic Self

Image found at: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhMLlmfqeG9K5euP9c9qS5ic3kvqSoFSJ6rNKRiq3_KqdZl8om&t=1

Over the last few days, the Internet has been abuzz about a blog post made by a “social scientist” (in quotes because there is no way he deserves such a title if he writes such misinformation) where he claimed that Black women are objectively less attractive than all other women and provided “data” to support his claim (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/19/london-school-economics-probes-lecturers-posting-race/?test=latestnews). The post was made on a supposedly reputable psychology website. I am truly boggled. How could such rubbish be allowed on a psychology website? I’ve signed a petition asking that the organization’s editorial board explain why the post was allowed and outline what is being done to prevent similar incidents from occurring (http://www.change.org/petitions/hold-psychology-today-accountable).

The outrageous post reflects continued denigration of Black women by some members of society. For me, it is a lesson that beauty is subjective. Further, it underscores that we as Black women need to learn how to embrace our beauty. Don’t get me wrong, all women need to embrace their beauty. However, when people attempt to use scientific evidence to denigrate Black women, Black women are at particular risk of being debased and dehumanized.

I think the thing that saddens me so is that I believe that there are people out there who endorse the outrageous comments. They really do think that Black women are less attractive. The saddest thing I’m afraid, is that my experience tells me that some Black women have internalized this and believe that they are the least attractive people on the face of the Earth. Can we embrace ourselves and our beauty? For example, can we accept that we have kinky, coily, spiraly, wavy, or straight NATURAL hair? Some Black women have straight hair so the point is not that straight hair is bad. The Black Diaspora is comprised of people of all shapes, hues, hair textures, sizes, etc. We have such BEAUTY!!! Can we please learn to embrace ourselves and stop trying to change our authentic reality?

Objective Beauty- Ladies Embrace Your Authentic Self

Image found at: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhMLlmfqeG9K5euP9c9qS5ic3kvqSoFSJ6rNKRiq3_KqdZl8om&t=1

Over the last few days, the Internet has been abuzz about a blog post made by a “social scientist” (in quotes because there is no way he deserves such a title if he writes such misinformation) where he claimed that Black women are objectively less attractive than all other women and provided “data” to support his claim (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/19/london-school-economics-probes-lecturers-posting-race/?test=latestnews). The post was made on a supposedly reputable psychology website. I am truly boggled. How could such rubbish be allowed on a psychology website? I’ve signed a petition asking that the organization’s editorial board explain why the post was allowed and outline what is being done to prevent similar incidents from occurring (http://www.change.org/petitions/hold-psychology-today-accountable).

The outrageous post reflects continued denigration of Black women by some members of society. For me, it is a lesson that beauty is subjective. Further, it underscores that we as Black women need to learn how to embrace our beauty. Don’t get me wrong, all women need to embrace their beauty. However, when people attempt to use scientific evidence to denigrate Black women, Black women are at particular risk of being debased and dehumanized.

I think the thing that saddens me so is that I believe that there are people out there who endorse the outrageous comments. They really do think that Black women are less attractive. The saddest thing I’m afraid, is that my experience tells me that some Black women have internalized this and believe that they are the least attractive people on the face of the Earth. Can we embrace ourselves and our beauty? For example, can we accept that we have kinky, coily, spiraly, wavy, or straight NATURAL hair? Some Black women have straight hair so the point is not that straight hair is bad. The Black Diaspora is comprised of people of all shapes, hues, hair textures, sizes, etc. We have such BEAUTY!!! Can we please learn to embrace ourselves and stop trying to change our authentic reality?