Sideshows: The hypersexualization of "enfreak-ed" women

Adopted in the early 19th century, the traditional American circus was a source of employment and entertainment for the young and old alike. These travelling circuses were intriguing, drawing many visitors on their short stops in various cities throughout the country. Included in a ticket price were a trained animal show and a pass into the Sideshow. The Sideshow was typically a separate tent within the venue that held animals and humans with visible oddities or unique talents. Included were both "born freaks", such as midgets, giants, and those with body deformities and "made freaks", such as tattooed people, extremely overweight people, and extremely thin people. 

Ellen Samuels discusses the Sideshow in her article "Examining Millie and Christine McKoy: Where Enslavement and Enfreakment Meet". Enfreakment, coined by Samuels, is the process of portraying a body as an object for the entertainment of others, establishing a strict dichotomy between normal and abnormal physical characteristics. Sideshows were breeding grounds for enfreakment; performers were either bought or hired specifically to be displayed for the purpose of entertaining those who are "normal". Freaks traded in their true identity to become an object of fascination— their personality no longer mattered. 

However, differences between the presentations of men and women in Sideshows were and still are evident. Samuels discusses Millie and Christine McKoy, conjoined twins who were on display for their entire lives. What were people most intrigued and perplexed by? Their genitalia. Medical examiners rarely bothered with any other physical issues than their genitalia. The hypersexualization of women in the Sideshow setting was rampant. Odd bodies were eroticized, fetishized, and put on display… but only the bodies of women.

Sarah Baartman, an African woman with unusually large buttocks and breasts, was treated and displayed as an object of extreme desire. She was presented under the name “Hottentot Venus” and was asked to perform nude. Just because Sarah’s body was abnormal she became objectified and lost her identity as a woman with thoughts, feelings, and a life before the Sideshow.

In searching for more examples of the sexualization of women performers in Sideshows, I found the “Circassian Beauties”. Circassian women are said to be the most beautiful in the world. These women, hailing from Circassia (near the Black Sea), were dressed in exotic underwear and asked to simply stand in front of an audience. Although visibly eroticized, these women were portrayed as being the most pure Caucasian women in the world. P.T. Barnum, founder of the Barnum and Bailey Circus, was the first to use Circassian women in his circus. Here is a photograph of a "Circassian Beauty" put on display.

http://mirrorofrace.org/circassian/

Surprisingly, Sideshows are actually still occurring today. One that I easily found is located in Coney Island in New York City. This show follows a “ten-in-one” pattern—audiences buy one ticket and get to see ten different acts. The Coney Island website lists their various performers, giving a short description of each. There are three woman performers that I found information on... to no surprise, all of their descriptions were extremely sexualized. Let's start with "Kryssy Kocktail" (pictured below), described as "A femme fatale if there ever was one. Willowy, 5'7" 1/2. Baby blue eyes and blonde hair of variable length and color. Heavily tattooed with some piercings and body modification. Costumes range from Sailor Girl to classic carny to refined and presentable". Next, we have "Serpentina", who is "6' Tall, Born 1976. Brown eyes and hair. Young, tall, and sexy. Serpentina Is close to Amazon height. Costume ranges from fetish to evening wear". Last but not least, "Bambi the Mermaid" who was given no description. The acts she performs are listed, including "Bambi the Mermaid, The Chicken Girl, Bug Eating Wild Girl, Snake Charmer, Showgirl, Little Girl, and Biker Chick". The male performers have descriptions quite different. Adam Realman (notice he doesn't have a stage name), is described by his amazing talents: "Growing up in the legendary Coney Island section of Brooklyn was where Adam developed a love for the sideshow. Adam has crafted his own ‘One Man Coney Island Sideshow’ which highlights his many amazing skills including sword swallowing, fire eating  and feats of strength as well as his spot on comedic timing. Adam’s large muscular physique is paired well with his large personality, making him a dynamic presence while on stage whether he’s performing to a room of 100 or 1000 people". Just as women performers were hypersexualized in Sideshow history, it is obvious that they still are today.

http://www.coneyisland.com/coney-island-circus-sideshow/cast/kryssy-kocktail

But why does enfreakment in Sideshows involve such a sexual standpoint for women but not for men? Perhaps it was a double standard of earlier times, a double standard that still holds true today. When women are visibly abnormal, one of the first questions she will be asked is about sexual relations. For example, there have been multiple specials on TLC that discuss Abby and Brittany Hensel. The girls were born with a visible deformity, having one body and two heads, one resting on each shoulder. These girls go through daily battles, being objectified and sensationalized in the media, yet everyone’s main concern is about their reproductive capabilities. Check out this article, “Abby and Brittany Hensel: 5 things you should know about the conjoined twins from TLC's new show”. Number 5 is pretty telling of what our society wants to know about these girls the most. These two girls are obviously going through enfreakment; their lives are ruled by their deformity and they have lost their individual identities in becoming one. They are never "Abby" or "Brittany" separately. These girls have not participated in a Sideshow... but could we possibly label TV and internet as a more private version of one?

Between reality TV shows such as The Biggest Loser and TLC Specials, bodybuilding competitions, and oddity museums such as Ripley's, I firmly believe that enfreakment is still occurring today. People with personalities and identities who should be subjects are still becoming objects for entertainment.