Venus, the Roman goddess of desire, was revered for her beauty. Saartjie was ridiculed. Though during a significant portion of Saartjie’s life, the two shared a name, they did not share the same level of admiration. Saartjie Baartman was subject to social mockery and kept as various forms of circus attractions until her death.

Most commonly worshipped as the goddess of fertility, love, and beauty, Venus represented the ideal female form for ancient Romans. Claims to her lineage strengthened the Roman empire, empowering leaders like Caesar and Augustus. She commonly appeared in sculpture in Ancient Rome, but her name is often used to title Paleolithic works depicting women.

Saartjie Baartman was called many names. Sarah and Hottentot Venus among them, with the latter being her name after becoming a “freak show” attraction. In stark contrast to the name Venus, Hottentot was a commonly used pejorative for the Khoekhoe people of South Africa. Baartman was widely known for her steatopygic body type, and her figure soon became the basis for the continuation of stereotyping. The idea of the “true nature” of the black woman being inherently hyper-sexual was given a more scientific basis, with the “findings” of Dr. Julien-Joseph Virey. He was, undoubtedly wrong, but British (and soon French) Victorian society found no reason to disagree with them. The men became obsessed with her and her figure, to the point that their wives grew concerned. The concern only grew until they found, what they believed to be a suitable substitute. The bustle.

Eventually replacing the hoop skirt, the bustle grew in popularity during the 1860s, dramatically emphasizing the backside of skirts. instead of a skirt with a wide, but even diameter, they grew smaller in diameter and larger in height. The bustle represented a dramatic shift in social attitudes towards the female figure. While I don’t think the phenomenon itself is a healthy one, it did inspire a new way of envisioning bodily enhancement, no longer solely about the hips being wide. While the shift was revolutionary for Europe, it was not for black women. Their figures being emulated for white women to appear more desirable, but still being considered less than human themselves. This habit never fell out of favor, with society continuing to pick and choose which features were desirable while discarding the rest. Whether it be full lips, a big behind, or tanner skin, these features are not a fad for black women and other women of color. Our features are not “trends” they are the culmination of thousands of years of people. They are the physical representation of thousands of people and their choices. This skin, these lips, and this nose are a reminder of who came before, not just the blueprint for whatever we decide is next.