Black Women Stereotypes free essay sample

The stereotypical misrepresentations of African-American women and men in popular culture have influenced societal views of Blacks for centuries. The typical stereotypes about Black women range from the smiling, asexual and often obese Mammy to the promiscuous Jezebel who lures men with her sexual charms. However, the loud, smart mouthed, neck-rolling Black welfare mother is the popular image on reality television. The typical stereotype about Black men is the violent, misogynistic thug, and the ever-enduring pimp. These images portrayed in media and popular culture createpowerful ideology about race and gender, which affects daily experiences of Black women in America. With few healthy relationships portrayed in the media, Black women are left to make decisions based on the options they have and the options they perceive. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why Black women are the least likely to marry in the climate of the over-sexed woman and a pimp. We will write a custom essay sample on Black Women Stereotypes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The protrayal of Black women as lascivious by nature is an enduring stereotype. The descriptive words associated with this stereotype are seductive, alluring, worldly beguiling, tempting and lewd. Historically, White women are portrayed as models of self-respect, self-control, and modesty, but Black women are often portrayed as naturally promiscuous, even predatory. This depiction of Black women is signified by the name Jezebel. Televised music videos, especially those of gangsta rap performers portray scantily clad Black women who thrust their hips to lyrics which often depict them as a To understand more fully the media’s role in shaping the culture of African-American experience, one must first examine the stereotypes projected by popular culture, such as MTV, BET, and VH1. The songs and music videos created by such hip-hop artists as 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg have built a culture centered in misogyny and violence. The value of a man in music videos is determined by his ability to intimidate and physically impose his will on others, and to have sex with as many women as possible with complete disdain for the consequences of his actions. These misrepresentations have contributed to prejudicial attitudes based on the idea that black men are unintelligent men who surround themselves in violence and sexual aggression. As Monique Ward says in her essay â€Å"Wading Through the Stereotypes: Positive and Negative Associations Between Media Use and Black Adolescents Conceptions of Self,† â€Å"[†¦] the media are [†¦] believed to play a prominent role in shaping self-conceptions, both by supplying ideals to internalize [†¦] and by providing feedback about the importance of ones social group, values, or status† (White 285). In other words, the media culture has a salient effect in determining social norms. By presenting the edgy misogynist as the personification of black masculinity, the media sends out two messages. First, impressionable black adolescents, many of whom are surrounded by the violence and abuse glorified by popular media, begin to fashion the idea that this is what it means to be a man. Secondly, the Caucasian community also develops the idea that all young blacks are criminals waiting to steal their money and rape their women. Ward) The self-fulfilling, prophetic nature of the media stereotype is a double-edged sword. Not only do the young men surrounded by this image strive to personify it, but they also suffer the effects of the stereotype being absorbed by the White community. Flooded by this false perception of the African-American male, Whites will actively seek to satisfy this pre-existing stereotype to confirm their prejudiced opinions of the black community. This one-two punch is an extremely damaging combination to both African-Americans and to race relations in America. The perception black women are left with is that the number of marriage-worthy minority men and by that I mean: alive, legally employed, disease-free, addiction-free, never been to jail, not crazy or abusive and actually want to get married -are low. Physical and cultural racial isolation means there’s little opportunity to marry someone of another race or ethnicity. The message regarding black women as suitable marriage partners is equally reinforced through the media and advertisements as a form of propaganda. The most relevant example is the presence of Caucasian women as brides in commercials, on billboards, and in magazines. This has sent an unintended and controversial message to African American women and men. This message is: The only qualified woman for marriage is a White woman. With such mixed perceptions flooding American society, it is understandable that black women are less likely to marry in this conflicted culture.