In today's society, African American women/girls have been misrepresented in media. They are seen to be "
Gold Diggers, Modern Jezebels, Baby Mamas, Uneducated Sisters, Ratchet Women, Angry Black Women, Mean Black Girls, Unhealthy Black Women, and Black Barbies," according to Richard Prince blog "Black Women in Media: Gold Diggers, Jezebels and Baby Mamas?" . These are seen especially on reality T.V. shows. Although there are a few positive influences for the black woman, such as, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and so on, the negative imagery of African American women are seen twice as often as the positive imagery, according to a survey of more than 1,200 respondents appearing in the November issue of Essence magazine.
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| http://oneblackgirlmanywords.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-paradox-of-assertiveness-for-black.html |
This shows that negative portrayals of the African American woman might have a greater influence on young black girls since they see negative depictions more often than positive ones. Furthermore, reality T.V.shows and even dramas can display the negative stereotypes of black women which can impact young black girls lives in a negative way.
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| http://spicie.com/articles/anise-smith/michelle-obama-and-her-impact-on-black-women/ |
In Ariel Ellis blog “Black women portrayed negatively in media” she states that Reality shows such as “Bad Girls Club,” “Love & Hip Hop,” and “Basketball Wives” show negative stereotypical images of black women. For example, according to MSTARS NEWS, in the reality T.V. show "Love & Hip Hop New York" season 5 episode 12, Rich Dollaz has his hands full with Diamond Strawberry and Jhonni Blaze. In this episode, things got out of control after Dollaz decided to have "public bathroom sex," with Diamond which caused her to go around town calling him her "boo."At Tara Wallace's business party Rich Dollaz decides to bring Jhonni Blaze as his plus one which makes them look as if they were a couple. Unfortunately, Diamond Strawberry appears surprisingly and sees the two. As Diamond comes to confront Rich and Jhonni, the two females begin to have a brutal fight over Rich. This episode displays that two black women have no self-control and act as "ratchet women" who have no home training. They also are portrayed to be mean girls and modern Jezebels. For example, Diamond having sex with Rich in the bathroom at a restaurant on their first date shows that she is a "fast" girl or a whore. The video to this fight is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcAQt2f2VmM. The issue about this is that about 15.4 million viewers watch this show which means that out of these viewers are young black women/girls who find interest in the show and may be influenced to copy the actions of these women because it is acceptable to act like this on television for the world to see.
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| http://nypost.com/2013/10/30/olivia-pope-dump-fitz-and-get-your-scandal-mojo-back/ |
Arial Ellis also attacks the hit show "Scandal" starring Kerri Washington as Olivia Pope. She states that Olivia Pope "a more intelligent, strong and complex black woman — the type seen too rarely in media. Although I’m a huge fan of the show, it saddens me to say that even Pope carries negative stereotypes. She embodies deep paternal issues and weak-minded tendencies, and we can’t forget she’s the ultimate home wrecker — the president’s mistress." Although Olivia Pope displays good qualities of a black woman, she will not be a complete "black woman" if Pope did not display some kind of stereotype of the African American woman. Basically, society expects a strong, intelligent black women to have some flaw that links her back to these negative stereotypes. Olivia Pope just 'has' to be sleeping with the president while he has a wife in order for the show to be appealing. This may be beneficial to the show but this is destroying black women's image in society. This shows young women/girls that even though they may have intellect and are strong, they are incapable of avoiding these stereotypes which they might begin to accept. It is like trapping a black women into a box full of stereotypes which she cannot avoid even if she tries to. Although I am a smart young lady and well-kept, I have tendencies to lashes-out when I am passionate about something. For example, if someone makes me frustrated, I try really hard to not yell at the person, but they might say something that will make my skin crawl and then I will become a "ratchet" girl for screaming at someone. Although I was wrong for screaming, I still shouldn't be labeled as "ratchet" or "mean."
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| https://mpasho.co.ke/2014/11/partying-eastlands-sucks/ |
Statistics from "Child Trend" state that "black students are much more likely than white students to watch four or more hours of television per weekday, at all grade levels. Among twelfth-graders in 2012, 39 percent of black students watched four or more hours of television, compared with 16 percent of white students." This means that black girls are heavily impacted by these television shows because of the large amount of T.V. they watch. This results in black girls fighting and mimicking these stereotypes. For example, in this article from Ebony News by Monique W. Morris, she states that, "A 15-year-old girl was recently pummeled by six young women at a McDonald’s in Brooklyn. The six girls pulled at her hair and clothes and threw a steady barrage of punches until her body finally collapsed onto the floor. The large crowd of bystanders appeared to watch the entire fight, never once jumping in to break it up. Only after her body went limp did someone intervene. Some of those watching were also cheering. Of course, someone recorded a video of the fight—and it went viral." This YouTube video displays a black girl fighting more than one girl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1Gg-KaJ9B4 . This is another example out of many that shows black girls brutally attacking one another and in this case a girl was attacked by two other girls which this can stem from what is visualized in the media. This is destroying the black youth's ability to strive and become thriving individuals.
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https://www.pinterest.com/eeuins/keep-calm/
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For these black societal issues to be solved there should be black girl empowerment groups to show young black girls positive influences which they can follow. For example, The Black Girls Rock Enrichment Program , enables black girls to strive to be the best they can be and to not fall victim to stereotypes. This is very important because black girls being able to see more positive imagery can diminish these stereotypes and give black girls a better future. What other strategies can be use to decrease the negative portrayals of black women? What other ways are black girls affected by these stereotypes? Do you find yourself also compelled by reality T.V. shows even if you are not of the same ethnic back ground?
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| http://sharonscheyving.loveitsomuch.com/stores/pink-black-girls-rock-star-rhinestone,287379.html |
African American women should not be viewed as "ratchet or ghetto" because of the way we are portrayed on television. Most African american teen girls are viewed this way because of the way some teens behave in urban schools. Since we are viewed this way in our own environment when we step out of the setting we are mostly seen in we are automatically thought of as a ghetto black girl. Not every African american girl is ghetto or ratchet. On my father's side of the family i am called "A Valley Girl" because I speak properly and try not to be a part of the "ghetto or ratchet" stereotype. I guess i'm seen as a valley girl because they grew up in that urban setting with the "ghetto" kids as to where my mother grew up in New York in a white neighborhood. I was watching this movie on Netflix called "GBF" and I found it a little odd that the only African american person on the movie had to be portrayed as a ghetto black barbie. I don't like that since i'm a black teen I am , to some people, seen as a ghetto black girl that probably wont make it far in life and if i do i still wont receive the credit I deserve as a woman in the work force.
ReplyDeleteChiamaka this was a great post that really caught my attention, even though I am not of the same ethnic background I still feel as if these stereotypes can be seen for Hispanic women especially with them being loud, ratchet, and baby mamas. Some methods that you can use would be let more African American women be seen as educated women, even though those shows are interesting maybe the channel should stop airing those shows so the media and young girls don't get the impression this is what they have to do to be famous and known to people. Honestly when I think of a black girl I do think loud and it might be because of these TV shows because I do watch "Love and Hip-Hop" and sometimes in my head I'm like oohhh these girls need to get their business together. Young girls will see that this is accepted by the media and men and grow up like this and then their children will learn. This can easily be avoided if women stop acting like that if they were to stop then maybe these stereotypes will go away and then they wouldn't be seen as that.
ReplyDeleteChiamaka this is a great post and I feel that it was really needed. As young black women I believe that it is very essential that we are able to understand the differences between how we are depicted in media and how we act in society. We know that these depictions are false however, it is also important for there to be positive depictions of black women in the media. Because if there is a continuous flow of negativity that is when we begin to hate our culture, and develop self hate. Representation matters especially for young girls, young girls need to be able to see people who look like them in situations and circumstances where they hold positions of authority and they are strong. Which is why I'm happy that there are movies and shows such as DreamWorks "Home", Sony's "Annie", and even Disney's "Doc Mc Stuffins" for my five year old sister Madison and other young black girls to watch as she grows up so she is able to grow up knowing that her skin is not a hurdle for her to jump over, and that she is important and she can do anything.
ReplyDeleteThese stereotypes that you mentioned in your blog are sadly true. I feel like the media has a great influence on the younger generation today. Many black girls today are loud and ratchet. They tend to feed into these stereotypes. The younger generation has a lot to do with this because many of them encourage it instead of trying to make a difference and change something. Many females today look at some of these reality TV stars who have no morals or values as their inspiration. Society does not allow any minorities rise above. No matter how educated someone may be society will do anything to find flaws in them.
ReplyDeleteThe way African American women are portrayed in today's society is truly sad. Everything stated in this blog like Devi said is true. The media, I believe has a huge impact on the way most act. Most people in general act like what they see or are exposed to and since we're exposed to ratchet reality TV and videos that's what most act like. Some feel if they don't fall into the average black girl stereotype that they won't fit in but i'd rather just be considered "different" than to act ridiculous and uneducated. The only way to break out of this stereotype is to rise above ourselves and the stereotype and act like we have some substance and sense. That though, will be hard to do because not every woman understands the image she portrays.
ReplyDeleteThe way that people view African American women is sad. I agree with everyone that the media has a impact. I don't like the stereotype that black girls are loud and ratchet. The definition of ratchet is a "device consisting of a bar or wheel with a set of angled teeth in which a pawl, cog, or tooth engages, allowing motion in one direction only". The word ratchet is a noun not an adjective. In TV shows, black girls are seen as being dumb, or not paying attention to class and popping their bubble gum very loudly. But in reality black women are just as smart as anyone else. There are many black women who don't fit into these stereotypes. I think that the black community needs to stop accepting these type of phrases so the other race communities could stop. If we are calling each other ratchet then why wouldn't someone else call us ratchet? We need to put ourselves into check first.
ReplyDeleteGreat Job little sister! This was an amazing post on black girls in the media. This is literally my reality, watching black girls and how they are portrayed in the media. People see these reality TV shows and think that these black girls are so ghetto or ratchet, but what people do not understand that for black girls to get that way something has happened underneath the surface. There is more to the story that the viewers do not ever see, just what the producers what the viewers to see. The stereotype of the Angry Black Woman is also my reality; my mother who is the Director of Nursing at her job has to be called the Angry Black Women because her job requires her to put people in order and show people how to do their job correctly and once someone keeps showing a person how to do their job over and over agian it can get pretty frustrating. So my mother gets callled the Angry Black Women but it is not because she is angry, but because she has to endure certain evils to get in her position and if she would have made the same mistakes she would have been fired so I see why she gets frustrated. These stereotypes of the typical black women is ridiculous and needs to stop, but it has to start with the black community. We have to treat ourselves better in order to be treated better and hopefully by doing this will lead to bettering ourselves as a community.
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