Reversing the Gaze: What if the Other Were You?

In her book "Reversing the Gaze," Geneviève Makaping challenges the white majority in Italy by exposing their racist aggression and discussing how inequality based on race, color, gender, and class feeds off each other.

Format: Hardback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 13 January 2023
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Tired of the relentless scrutiny, criticism, and fetishization she faced for her black skin, Geneviève Makaping, a scholar of Cameroonian descent, takes a bold stance and turns the tables on Italy's white majority. With an unwavering and critical eye, she examines them through the same lens that minorities have traditionally been subjected to. In her candid memoir, Makaping vividly recounts her experiences, spanning from her childhood in Africa to her life as a migrant Black woman in Italy. Through her storytelling, she exposes the exhausting and degrading acts of racist aggression that she faced on a daily basis. Moreover, she delves into the interconnectedness of various forms of inequality, such as race, color, gender, and class, highlighting how they perpetuate each other and contribute to a systemic oppression.
Reversing the Gaze is a powerful invitation to readers to confront the pervasive issue of racism by reliving everyday occurrences that we may have encountered as victims, perpetrators, or witnesses. Makaping's memoir serves as a poignant reminder that racism is not confined to isolated incidents but is woven into the fabric of society. It challenges us to reflect on our own biases, prejudices, and behaviors and to work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable world for all. By sharing her personal journey, Makaping inspires others to stand up against discrimination and to advocate for change. Through her words, we gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of race, identity, and the ongoing struggle for equality.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978834699