Jennifer Morgan Some Could Suckle Over Their Shoulder Analysis

In the “Some Could Suckle Over Their Shoulder”: Male Travelers, Female Bodies, and the Gendering of Racial Ideologies by Jennifer L. Morgan, we see that the early Spanish and European travelers had an apprehension and to some degree interest about the Indian and Black lady. Moreover, in Morgan's article, she not only explain how early accounts from European explorers in Africa interpreted the physicality of African women as inherently savage and demonic, but analyze the differentiation between women of color and European women through the white male perception as well. Through the article, we can see the relationship between racism and the gender and sexual difference as the author emphasized that “this article focus on the way in which racialist

He described a black woman for the first time with terms like beauty, majesty, excellently shaped, well favoured, full eyed, admirably graced. His description might have surprised the English readers because it was unheard of at this time for any civilized person to gaze upon the uncivilized race with that type of admiration. Throughout the article the black and Native American women were derided for the way they looked. For instance, settlers mocked the women’s breast that “hang down below their Navels” and look like they had six legs when they bent over. According to Lok and Towrson, they distinguished African women from Europe by their bodies and sexual behavior. The women of color were viewed as animals and “freaks” because of their so-called large breasts and oversized

Thereby, they have no shame, they wed no wives, the inability to identify lines of hereditary and descents are just some of the allegations made by Europeans about the women of Africa. In fact, the early indigenous women of color did not feel shame at nudity, but displayed a freedom that challenged European patriarchy instilled a threat to visiting European men. Thus, a persistent ideology surrounded by excessive adamancy, dignity, and aggression converged over the black female persona. However, one thing that couldn’t be denied was the admiration of European men to the strength of colored women compared to European women. In particular, Vespucci described women of color that “[The] women are very fruitful, and refuse to laboure al the whyle they are with childe. They travayle in maner withoute payne, so that the nexte day they are cherefull and able to walke. Neyther have they bellies wimpled or loose, and hanging pappes, by reason of bearing manye chyldren” (Morgan, 171). In fact, European women could not give birth without having a medical attendant, a nurse, or a mid-wife present while the indigenous women would give birth without any nurses, and sometimes in front of the whole tribe and continuing whatever work she had the following day. Maybe this adoration for female vigor by European males has become an essential aspect in the representation of black women