Sexual Schizophrenia
By Regina Rivers, Editor-in-Chief
If sex is labeled in American culture as a taboo, inappropriate topic to talk about, then sex crimes must be too much for anyone to handle. Sex is just one of those vague topics that has more than one connotation. Narrowing the focus is the most challenging part because everyone has something to say, especially if it involves negative images, portrayals and feelings. No one wants to talk about it, but it’s so easy to watch and sink into on the TV or the internet. So many people are aware of the act itself yet ignore or don’t know the spiritual, emotional/mental and physical effects that take place after. Some consider it a sacred act and some do it for shiggles. Now, for the love of sanity, this article is addressing how sex is perceived in society. I ain’t telling y’all to do anything; you’re grown (if you’re in high school reading this, you just think you’re grown). Why does it sell so well in America? And why did I choose these four women to talk about?
Lorena Gallo
LaToya Jackson
Janet Jackson
Paris Hilton
They all have been persecuted by society and have been wronged as to their sexuality. If you’re a woman who won’t let stereotypes define your sexuality, more power to you; just expect a lot of whiny, irritated, and intimidated people who won’t agree with you. Lorena (Bobbitt) Gallo partially castrated her porno star abusive husband John Bobbitt. Bobbitt admitted in court that he abused his wife physically, emotionally, and sexually but the media complied their negative image of Gallo as an insane woman with bloody knives. Not to mention the popular doo-wop song, In the Jungle had a lyrical update for Gallo’s case, “In the jungle the mighty jungle the lion sleep tonight, In the kitchen the mighty kitchen Lorena steals a knife, a-wiener-whack-a-wienerwhack…” Fahari 28
When Jack Gordon became the husband and manager of LaToya Jackson, no one would expect him to sexually exploit and profit off of her. If Jackson didn’t comply with Gordon’s sexual demands of performing in strip clubs and doing porno movies, he would physically assault her and threaten to kill her famous siblings. He wouldn’t allow her to have any contact with her family and sold property owned by them without consulting his wife. Jackson’s name is constantly associated with family estrangement and the ‘black sheep’ label. Even though Janet Jackson is known for exploring her sexual independence through her music, the mishap of the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show made it easier for America to criticize her. After the accidental wardrobe malfunction, Jackson was making apologies left and right for what happened. While her Damita Jo album took a temporary decline in sales and she received less airtime on BET, MTV, and VH1, Justin Timberlake’s popularity went up and he was hardly blamed for what happened. He acknowledged to John Norris on MTV that America media was unfair on women and more unfair on ethnic people (Norris and Moss). Around that same time Janet was being persecuted by the media, Paris Hilton was being hailed as “hot” for One Night in Paris. The Simple Life’s star’s then boyfriend, Rick Salomon, who was in the video, enhanced the video himself and had it distributed with help from the Red Light District Company in 2004. After he got the video out, he sued Hilton for defamation of character. The video got mixed reviews but guys still wanted to date her and girls wanted to be her. So, who is wrong, the media or the women? While Hilton became famous for being hot after her tape was released, the Jackson sisters both were besmirched by the media as having no control over their sexuality. The abuse La Toya was suffering by Gordon was taken with a grain of salt as she was sullied by a depraved monster and became a martyr to societal flaws. Janet had a chance to witness the hypocrisy the public used against her sexuality because before the wardrobe malfunction, nobody made a fuss. After