Years ago, I subscribed to the Color of Change mailing list. If you're not familiar with this organization, their sole purpose is to seek out, speak out, and attempt to proactively rectify instances of prejudice and injustice in our society. I can dig that. Now, I admit each time I open up one of their emails I am reluctant as to what's inside. I know it will not be pleasant. So, yesterday while mind numbingly clicking through my inbox I came across an email from them. Well, well...what level of perversion is being challenged this time I wondered.
As I'd suspected, the email began as follows:
Dear Cheryl,
Nearly 20 years after a black parent documented how hard it was to hear, "Mommy, I want to be white,"1 Psychology Today reinforced the false and hurtful sentiment that Black women aren't attractive.
In May 2011, Psychology Today published an article that [in a nutshell] explains how Black women are scientifically proven...ugly! Upon first reaction, I let out a gutt busting laugh at the ignorance factor coupled with irony - pop psych lore in a (mind you) so called respected psychology journal. Go figure? However, this is not a laughing matter. Here's the background:
The article was a blog contribution to Psychology Today's website, written by scientist Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa (pictured right) who teaches at the London School of Economics. To back his claim from an evolutionary standpoint, Kanazawa argued that black women are less physically attractive than females of other races due to issues relating to testosterone and genetic mutations - which are more in African/Black women who predate other races of women. In addition, Kanazawa conducted an opinion poll where an adult panel of interviewees were asked to rate different women and their respective attractiveness on a scale of 1 to 5. One being the least attractive and of course five being the most. As one journalist at the Herald Sun put it, "the entire study appears to be based on the perspectives and opinions of adult respondents, although Dr. Kanazawa reports his findings as objective facts." Indeed. None stand in as fact because it's all relative. Therein lies the fallacy. It does not take a rocket scientist to know that beauty is based upon perception. Besides, how can these so called findings possibly be "objective" when they are based upon bias? Therein lies the irony. Clearly, his entire argument is one big erroneous paradox based on poor research!
Yes, it is fair to say that my opinion of him is biased but not of his work - which is documented all across the Internet as questionable and riddled in pseudo-science. Additional posts within the Kanazawa's professional blog include, "Are All Women Essentially Prostitutes?", "If Beautiful People Have Daughters, Why Do Posh & Beck Have Three Sons?" and the list goes on.
So, what does Psychology Today have to say about all this? The journal has since removed the article from its website due to an onslaught of traffic, complaints, and negative publicity. However, the journal's editor-in-chief, Kaja Perina (pictured left) stands firmly behind Kanazawa's article; refusing to apologize for the upset stating, "Our bloggers are credential(ed) social scientists and for this reason they are invited to post to the site on topics of their choosing. We turn reserve the right to remove posts for any number of reasons".
In other words, he did not remove the article due to a change of heart but because its online presence [in fact] crashed their servers. As a human I am appalled by the blatant disrespect and disregard shown towards black women. And as a black woman myself I am angered and hurt by the way we are demeaned and spat upon with ridicule. I will never understand. Last but not least. All women (irregardless of race) are attractive within their own right and to make such a general claim about a gender within a race is both sexist and racist. It's like saying, Pine Trees are less attractive than all other trees. I guess, if someone were to put it to Perina that way, he'd realize just how ignorant the 'nutty professor' and his articles really are.
Update: As of June 1, 2011 Psychology Today has both publicly apologized and fired Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa. Congratulations to ColorofChange and all who take a stand against prejudice. See official press release here.
Update: As of June 1, 2011 Psychology Today has both publicly apologized and fired Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa. Congratulations to ColorofChange and all who take a stand against prejudice. See official press release here.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (02.06.12):
AS AN ADVOCATE OF FREE SPEECH I'D RATHER NOT CENSOR. HOWEVER, DISCERNMENT IS KEY. AFTER READING THROUGH COMMENTS ON THIS POST LAST NIGHT, I'VE DECIDED TO MODERATE. THEREFORE, SEXIST, RACIST (INCLUDES WHITE BASHING), AND OTHERWISE MALICIOUS AND IRRELEVANT COMMENTS WHICH ADD NO INHERENT VALUE TO DISCUSSION OR HUMANITY WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED/DELETED.
amen to the article
ReplyDeleteDont be blaming white people for this shit, i am white an i think many black women as sexy, this man is insane, just anther dumb arse starting trouble.
ReplyDeletei agree completely with you :) i'm so tired of everybody generalizing one whole race because of one ignorant person.
DeleteIt is very demeaning that a study like this was even conducted and that this man had the guts to put his name behind it and back it fully. Obviously all the letters after his name don't say anything about his intelligence. Because intellect isn't the only thing that makes you smart, wisdom and discernment does as well. And those are things that he seems to lack. I'm only 20 and I've had to live my life being demeaned and disrespected because of the color of my skin and my gender, both things I cannot help. I have to work twice as hard in to make it through university. I'm 1 of 4 black people in my University Physics class and that isn't something I'm very proud of. We as a race also need to step up but it is difficult to do so when you are facing such ridiculous odds. But we also need to know that the world doesn't owe us anything, it was here first. So we need to take it upon ourselves to illicit a change so trash like this doesn't even occur. Beauty starts on the inside so attitudes and mindsets must change. And Dr. K if this is how you really feel you must know that YOU are ugly for doing something like this. All I can think of is my little sister who's only 15 and all the children at my church and in my neighborhood. If something like this is permitted to happen in 2011, it's obvious that we still have a long way to go. You hurt my feelings for real with this, but I know I'm beautiful. I don't need an experiment to prove that. You better recognize!
ReplyDeleteamen
DeleteIf black women are the ugliest women on planet earth, then I would like to know what it makes of women of other ethnicities who are in their 20-30s and look much older. Yet a black woman can be in her 60s and look as thought she is only 35-40. Ugliness does not do that, it is both inner and other beauty. My mother is 78 and she does not have one single wrinkle on her face, or on her body for that matter. I know white, Asian and Orientals who are in their 20s but look like their in their late 30s. I just think that this man is just jealous. I am so glad that I know who I am, and I do no measure myself by the ignorant standards of jealous people. I also think all black people should look within themselves for a sense of self worth and confidence and not allow bigots susch as this Oriental man to tell them how they look.
ReplyDeleteI can't even believe that Psychology Today published this pile of nonsense. Makes me question everything they ever published and will publish...
ReplyDeletethis man is just being a jackass..black women are beautiful..and i am an Indian and i live in the Caribbean and let me tell you that some of the most beautiful women are African.
ReplyDeletebtw black is a colour not a race there are black Latinos, Indians..etc..so this man needs to STFU!!!
i don't even understand why people are actually taking this seriously, the guy was messed up in his childhood, or he asked a black woman out he was in love with and she rejected him and this is his way to realease his anger stress or revenge, or whatever he is feeling, it's basic fact Psychology is barely a science, lol they make up things all the time, ugly what is ugly it's chemical messeges sent to our brains and if it's evolutionary black woman give of a stronger aura than any other race, they are indipendant hard working strong and steady headed, meaning evolutionary they would be good partners to survive as they would povide a good mate and partner rather than a woman hwo is dependant liability towards youetc this guy proberbly faked his phd, (obviously he probably didn't but it's funny to say it)
ReplyDeleteit's really too bad that the article was removed- it'd be much easier to point out all the problems with the article and the study it was based on if I could actually SEE these documents. Links, anyone?
ReplyDeleteEveryone is attractive!
ReplyDeleteI personally love Asian and Blonde Europeans, but to say this about black people is just bias, and wrong. Every race has its beautiful people.
ReplyDeleteblack women are BEAUTIFUL!!...i dont care what this says! this is B.S. as a matter a fact EVERY race of women are BEAUTIFUL.. and if black women are so ugly why do white men have BLACK girlfriends just saying!
ReplyDeleteYes they are! ^ amen! Please this guy dosent know shit! Some one is obviously jealous that their wife isn't black or can't get a black women! Every one is attractive and sexy in one way the other. But if your to blind and close minded to see that get a friken life and stop hating u pathetic loser! black women have many features that other type of women wish they had and thats y they get so MANY compliments on features! how can u call some one ugly wen ur ugly either on the inside or the outside your self!
ReplyDeletehes ugly beauty is in all races ugly people are too
ReplyDeleteI would like to know what he means by Black? Does he simply mean African American, or African as well? Does he know that oftentimes African American women have genetics from other ethnicities almost more than they have genetics from African ancestry? Is he including Latina women and women on the Asian subcontinent whose skin is often darker than mine and whose features are often broader? Or is he basing his OPINION solely on a cultural bias or some hatred he has toward African American women in general. Whatever it is I smell hateration! Women all over the world who know who you are and rock your beauty confidently, pay no heed to fools and their blather.
ReplyDeleteBeauty is in the eye of the beholder. Scientific researches, no matter how fancy it might be, can`t prove who is beautiful and who isn't. Since it`s all based on opinion and thus differing from person to person. Yes, we can all acknowledge the fact that due to media influences, there is this false beauty standards one must fit in to be considered `beautiful. However, the power of the media could only influences us as much as we let it. It`s obvious that this Kanazawa fellow doesn't understand what real beauty really is and that it can`t be measure by mean of researching--asking a few people to tell who is beautiful and who isn`t. Any journal or person who takes his "findings" as accurate should examine their heads a little more before supporting these kind of things as "truth". All races have unique features about them that are considered "beautiful" and those that aren`t "beautfiul" according to media standards. Whether you agree with it or not, is totally up to you. But it doesn't mean that in time of vain and hurt, we turn to criticize girls from other races to justify how beautiful we are. That in itself is no better than this Kanazawa fellow. Who thinks that a race could be "scientifically proven ugly". Ultimately comparing white to black, black to white, white to asian, asian to black, etc would not help solve anything in this multicultural world. It would further divide us as woman and as human being in this ONE world that we ALL live in.
ReplyDeleteBLACK WOMEN IS NOT UGLY,,BLACK WOMEN IS MORE INDEPENDENT THEN OTHERS NOT SAYIN THAT WHITE ASIANS AN ECT OR UGLY BUT MORE OF THEM COPY OFF OF BLACK WOMAN LIKE GETTIN THE LIPS BIGGER AN FULLER BLACK PPL LIPS ALREADY FULLER SO THERES NO NEED FOR THAT.I JUST THINK THIS WHOLE THING IS WRONG
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what to say I just hope that a young black girl doesn't get this said to her by anyone! Because we are all beautiful and God made us all unique, so why would a professor even do this testing. I bet if it was talking about his race he would get really mad... mmmhhhhhmm.... shame... Plus, I am a black female college student and I am super confident about my looks even if I wear my hair big and natural. I rock it with pride and people compliment black or white, so hopefully this professor ask for forgiveness from God... and just decide to post an apoligize to everyone, because it's the ADULT thing to do!! YOU ARE AN ADULT RIGHT, SO ACT LIKE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, how can you take a poll and call it "science"? Someone's opinion does not make science. There is beauty in every race. God doesn't make ugly! :-) I can't believe someone would even do a "study" on a topic to see who was most ugly. There is WAY too much going on in the world (ie. kids being molested, raped, killed. Children going hungry. Women being abused) to waste time, effort, and money on something so ignorant. I would also like to add that this is an Asian man who did this so-called "scientific study" not a white man. But I see it being taken out on white women. I personally think black women are beautiful. Like I said earlier, there is beauty in everyone, regardless of race! My daughter is bi-racial and I think (obviously lol) that she is the most gorgeous girl! She does not have the first "manly" feature. She is flawless. I envy her features (perfectly clear, smooth skin. Perfect tan! hehe big hiney, big lips, and the list could go on) and honestly wish I had the same ones! lol I agree with the people who said this man is just jealous. What other explaination could there be? For someone to be racist is utterly discusting. We are all the same on the inside, skin color is the only difference. I have friends, and family from several races. For someone not to like a person, or automatically judge them based on their skin color, is missing out on so many wonderful people who could enrich their lives. You should see someone for who they are, not for what they look like. I hate racism with a passion! I pray everyday for God to soften the hearts of those who still hold racism in their hearts. It just makes me sick, literlly. Dr. K (who doesn't deserve the have the title "doctor") is obviously a coward, and desperately needs Jesus!
ReplyDeleteThat's not Kaja Perina (Its a Woman) Power of Facebook...
ReplyDeleteI am a Black Man and I believe Every Race Is Beautiful from asian all the way to African, Everyone has their own unique characteristics which defines us, so no one has the right to judge anyone and that article should have never been published. However, it does show peoples true colors and I would rather you be raciest or prejudice and tell me then smile in my face and go behind my back. So I applaud the article because thats how they feel and it shows me their lack of intelligence as doctors and psychologist. I wonder what race produced the Ugliest Men (KEJA PERINA)
Correction noted. Thanks!
DeleteAt first sorry for my vocabulary but i'm not as fluent in written english as i want to be...
ReplyDeleteIn medias res:
I can say that the metodology of his reasearch is doubtfull (i assume):
- probably voters where mostly white/asians - and is proven that all people better grade their race than the other races - THAT'S FACT / and even if not in western societies black race is minority so probably in his reasearch voters where:
10% black
50% white
40% asian
- if anybody believe in evolution (i don't) he must assume that if white race is second race (black first and asian third) and all people better grade similars so whites technicaly are closer to either asian and black than asian and black to each other so with that metodology white will win on paper always!!!
- next and the key is that mass-media promote white actors/charakteristic in films/tv/radio/magazines - THAT'S MOST POWERFUL ARGUMENT - cause of whites leading role on recent history/culture
So the conclusion is that his reaserch is "science on demand" because the cultural dominance of white race for previous hundreds of years and such "proves" and asumption are tottaly unscientific and for me is shameful that preson who has a degree can write such carelessness
whitey greetings from Poland :)
I FIND THIS SAD,THAT THIS FINDING WOULD MAKE PEOPLE SPEAK BAD ABOUT ANY WOMAN.BLACK WOMEN LOOK THE WAY WE LOOK WHITE,RED,YELLOW,BROWN WOMEN LOOK THE WAY THEY LOOK.IF YOU MAKE A CHART BLACK FOR YOU IS ON THE BOTTOM,SO!MY BLACKNESS IS ME SO FINE SO ME! IF YOU LOOK AT ME AND DON'T SEE A WOMAN WITH THE THINGS YOU FIND TO BE BEAUTIFUL IS IT ME OR IS IT YOU!WHAT EVER YOU FINE IS O.K.
ReplyDeleteHello, beautiful people! Firstly, thanks for visiting. This post is generating much discussion (thanks to "DatNiggaWitDaTattoos"). Months ago, I hit him up via Twitter asking him to read my post and discuss the topic at hand with his fan-base. After viewing the video he obviously couldn't recall who tweeted him the information [lol].
ReplyDeleteYet, that was none the matter. I was simply pleased he read and mentioned it. As far as I'm concerned mission accomplished! Bottom line. People cannot act on things they are not aware of. However, heightened awareness is key, and for racists to understand their ignorance is never tolerated; and we STILL love one other enough to take a stand.
African-American/Black women are indeed beautiful. Yet, there is beauty in ALL races just as there is beauty in all the natural world. As a whole, no race of people are ugly. We are all God's children and beautiful in our own right and physical diversity.
Admittedly, there's a bit of an angry tone to my post. I was upset and understand why others would be too. The topic is sensitive and generates strong feelings, but understand name calling and perpetuating racism gets us nowhere. It's like going in circles...if you pace long enough you'll eventually run yourself into the ground. Nevertheless, I do not censor commentary. I simply ask everyone to try and respect one another (as well as the overall integrity of this site) while stating your opinion.
Ok, I'm a black woman. I didn't get to read the article, but from what I've heard, the whole sitch was pretty messed up. I'm a psych major too, and I pray that I never let my own personal opinion get in the way of my thirst for REAL truth. I'm honestly curious about how we humans work. So don't knock *all* psychologists, please. And one more thing, racism isn't limited to white people, and every white person isn't racist. In fact, the man who wrote this article wasn't even white. So why are there so many white-bashing comments on here?! You're just as bad as all the other bigots in the world. We need more people like Dr. King and the many other peaceful, but productive activists throughout history, not more ignorance and slurs. I know it doesn't look like it, but racism is dying. A slow death, indeed, but dying nonetheless. Don't believe me? Then compare this decade to any decade in the 20th and earlier centuries. So let's just continue ushering it to its grave as we have been.
ReplyDeleteSide Note: ironically if you rearrange the letters in his name it spells out 'Kwanzaa' (excluding that other 'a' just lingering for hope lol). Still doesn't make him a better person though.
ReplyDeleteBack to life... back to reality: The ignorance of this blatant a-hole's 'research' just seems so inhumane and very well unstudied within the damn naked eye. Who in the blue hell does he think he is saying black women are physically the most least attractive? Black women (as well as all other race of women) are very exotic and gorgeous from dark skinned to light skinned. Maybe Dr. Kanazawa has some sort of animosity towards black women due to their rare alluring features.
Now GRANTED, unfortunately some black women do have insecurities w/ being 'too dark / too light' for their appeasement; I don't think that was Kanazawa's claim. He just upchucked the 'testosterone and genetics' card. Seriously? No offense, but I've seen some stern & chiseled looking women from the 'exotic' nationalities as well. GTFOH.
Homeboy, do some research diligently next time.
@LiWFN, It is a REAL slow ushering!! ;) I think the caucasian-centric focus of the complaints have more to do with the institutionalized form of racism that has its particular flava coming out of America. Racism in world history never really had quite this tenor of viciousness, or adherence to false assumptions as the American variety primarily because of its capitalization. You make racism a part of your economy, then everything else you do in that society has to justify the choice of it.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this leaves the rest of the world learning this new more virulent form of racism and passing it down with their already-ingrained concepts of racial/social difference, giving it a new level of vehemence and vitriol that surely allows, even encourages, separatism. Enough! Every race of our species has its beauty and its ugly; God don't like ugly, wherever it is!
ReplyDelete