The life of Sara Baartman continues to attract the attention of people who are interested in the history of colonialism and slavery. To a great extent, the exploitation of this person shows how an individual can be dehumanized because of race, gender, or nationality. More importantly, the sufferings of this individual can be accepted by other people. It seems that the discussion of these issues is still relevant nowadays, when a person can be discriminated due to some reasons. This paper is aimed at discussing these questions in more detail.
First, it should be noted that Sara Baartman was orphaned and enslaved at a very early age. From the very beginning, she was treated as a mere object, rather than an individual. More importantly, later she was chosen by a British surgeon who wanted to display her at as an attraction.
The film Black Venus or Venus noire eloquently illustrates how people can use the rhetoric of race and gender in order to justify cruelty or discrimination (Black Venus). In this case, one should pay attention to the scene when Sara is examined by a surgeon (Black Venus).
He speaks about her as an interesting specimen that he was lucky to find. However, he completely disregards the idea that he is speaking about a human being. This is one of the details that attract the attention of the viewer. To a great extent, this behavior can be explained by the ideology that made some races or nationalities inferior or superior to others. This is one of the main arguments that one can make.
One can also discuss the movie The Life and Times of Sara Baartman directed by Zola Maseko. This documentary shows how this person was treated when she was in Britain and France. One of the most striking details is that Sara was often accompanied by an animal trainer when she was exhibited to French viewers (The Life and Times of Sara Baartman).
Again, this example tells that she was dehumanized by other people. In fact, she was reduced to the status of an animal. It is quite possible to argue that this cruelty takes its origins in racial ideology. At that time, this worldview was quite acceptable to the community.
Furthermore, one should remember that Sara was victimized as a woman. She was viewed primarily as a sexual object by men who to look at her. It did not even occur to them that Sara was forced to act as an exhibit. This is one of the themes that were explored in the movie Black Venus.
Apart from that, Sara was discriminated on the basis of her nationality. For example, at the time when she was in London, a great number of black people lived in this city. Yet, Sara did not enjoy the same rights because she differed from them in terms of her origin. So, such a factor as nationality could also play a significant role.
The exploitation of Sara Baartman shows that in the nineteenth century a person could be victimized in several ways. This woman, who became the victim of the existing social order, was discriminated because of her race, nationality, and gender. More importantly, very few people expressed compassion for this person. The analysis of these questions can be relevant to nowadays, because the rhetoric of race or nationality still affects people’s attitudes or decisions.
Works Cited
Black Venus. Ex. Prod. Addellatif Kechiche. Cape Town: MK2, 2010. DVD.
The Life and Times of Sara Baartman. Ex. Prod. Zola Maseko. Cape Town: Icarus Films, 1998. DVD.