Black Woman’s Burden Commodifying Black Reproduction

Black Woman's Burden examines the historical endeavors to regulate Black female sexuality and reproduction in the United States through methods of exploitation, control, repression, and coercion. The myth of the "angry Black woman" has been built over generations through clever rhetoric and oppressive social policy. Here, Rousseau explores the continued impact of labeling and stereotyping on the development of policies that lead to the construction of national, racial, and gender identities for Black women.

PART I: WHY BLACK REPRODUCTION? Introduction The Significance of Social Rhetoric On Historical Materialist Theory& Method Applying the Historical Materialist Paradigm PART II: SLAVERY MATTERS! Becoming Instruments of Production This the White Man's Burden Or Ours? Age Old Pimpin': Exploitative Reproductive Policies PART III: EMANCIPATED…NOT LIBERATED Labour in the Industrial Age Becoming a Social Problem Morons, Mental Defectives, Prostitutes,& Dope Fiends: Restrictive Reproductive Policies PART IV: A BRAND NEW DAY Global Capitalism in the Electronic Age Pathologizing the Black Woman She's Out of Control: Controlling Reproductive Policies Vilifying Black Motherhood Gettin' Your Tubes Tied: Coercive Reproductive Policies PART V: TOWARD A THEORY ON THE COMMODIFICATION OF BLACK WOMEN'S REPRODUCTION Rationalizing Commodification Social Rhetoric as a Hegemonic Tool Commodifying Black Reproduction PART VI: LIBERATION Finding Freedom Notes Key Concepts and Definitions Bibliography Index

NICOLE ROUSSEAU is assistant professor in the department of Sociology at Kent State University, USA.