Over the last few weeks, GLAMOUR has been celebrating black women’s beauty in a video series dedicated to uplifting the marginalised. Speaking to women across the media industry, we get an insight into their lived experiences in society and beauty. In the third and final part of this series, we turn our attention to the myths and impressions of black women.
With most cultures, there’s a whole host of assumptions that come with them and those myths surrounds black women are exactly that – myths. These misconceptions are weighty, and in turn affect how the women in the video feel as if they have to act. Whether it’s feeling compelled to act in a more exaggerated manner than usual to fit into white spaces or consciously having to distance themselves from the idea of ‘the angry black woman’, these myths and misconceptions have power over the black community that shouldn’t be there.
In the video, the women unpack the ideas of the hyper-sexualised black woman and how they’re assumed to navigate sexuality and the dating world.
On a societal level, myths and misconceptions are ultimately another hurdle for black women to face.
Black women’s beauty isn’t defined by the assumptions of others, but the way they see themselves.
