Wild Women

In her book Black Looks which examines cultural representations of black women in media, Bell Hooks discusses the "wild woman" image that is often associated with black females. While describing pop star Tina Turner, Hooks explains her, "singing career has been based on the construction of an image of black female sexuality that is made synonymous with wild animalistic lust." This image of the black female as a "wild sexual savage" is still commonplace in todays media. The following ad for Wild Africa Cream Liquor depicts a black woman as a wild sexual temptress:

The tagline reads, "Unleash your wild side", as the woman in the ad is literally being portrayed as half woman half animal, seducing the man in the ad with her wild animalistic behavior.

This image of wild black women also appears in the fashion world. The December 2008 issue of Russian Vogue featured model Naomi Campbell in a perfect example of Hooks' depiction of the black woman as a "wild, sexual savage":

Here Campbell is portrayed as a primitive, savage, sexual object. She is naked, her only covering a plant and a piece of animal printed fabric. The picture evokes the idea of a native African tribeswoman, wild and untamed, an object of male fantasy and lust.

However, in contrast to the images of the women in these ads, Hooks describes that Tina Turner used the image of wild, animalistic, sexuality as a source of empowerment. In her personal life Turner was physically abused by her husband and in her professional career she, "appropriated the 'wild woman' image, using it for career advancement." This tactic may have proved successful for Tina Turner, but in my opinion the idea of a woman as a wild animal seems far from empowering.