_This story was really interesting since it dealt with Carla's perception of herself as it related to how men viewed her. Having just broken up with her ex-boyfriend she seeks the comfort of her old flame Brian just to be rejected. She associates her past physical relationship with him as an acceptance of her as a person, when in reality he could still accept her without a physical component. It's a difficult concept for Carla to grasp as she is closely tied to her body and how it transfers into power in relationships for her. As Brian moves on and gets a fiance she loses power in the relationship which is signified by her feeling of rejection. Another perspective of the female body is Carla's younger cousin who is still working to master control over herself as well as how others perceive her. While she tries to wear mature clothes and hit on older men it is clear that she lacks a mastery over her self, and she is also rejected in lieu of another prospect.

While Carla struggles to define herself by the reinforcement of male attention, there is a gray area of sexual dominance established by the paradox of owning one's sexuality and be subjected by it.  This image of Kelis, while provocative, shows an empowerment of the ownership that she holds over her body.  She is using her sexuality to promote her image as an artist, and paired with the statement on the side it really claims the idea that she is the controller of her Black Female Body.  She is representing her dominance over sex and creates her own agency of choice by deciding who gains access to her body.


What kind of shift has occurred in the way that we view black women's sexual identity? Has there been a shift?

Beyonce, a dynamic performer and accomplished artist has had songs ranging from club hits, to ballads and spirituals.  Her body like most performing artists is on display and she makes no apologies for dressing "provocatively" or sexy and has even celebrated the fact that she enjoys her curvy figure with songs like, "Bootylicious."

There is no doubt that Beyonce is a talented and intelligent individual, but some argue that her look and the decisions that she makes as an artist can have a mixed impact of both positive and negative stereotypical images for Black Women.  Beyonce is also an incredible business woman, and many look at her and see her as a role model for youths.  

Beyonce represents a great display of what it means to exist in the gray area of sexuality and whether or not she is promoting exploitation, or owning her sexuality and benefitting at her own hand.  Black women that own their sexuality have been stereotyped in the past as a Jezebels who are sex crazed Black woman.   However being part of a power couple, being married to Jay-Z, Beyonce busts the stereotype of the promiscuous woman.  Beyonce uses her body to promote herself and has generally a positive public image of herself as a successful and accomplished artist. 

In the past Collins describes that, "African sensuality, eroticism, spirituality, and/or sexuality [is observed] as deviant, out of control, sinful, and as an essential feature of racial difference"(Black Sexual Politics 98).   Because of past notions like these it makes it difficult for Black Women to display the mastery of their bodies and sexuality without playing in to these prior stereotypes and negative connotations.

Embodying the complications that come with being scrutinized in the public eye, what impacts does Beyonce's ownership of her sexuality have on society today?