Are Black Women Being Negatively Stereotyped On TV?

Entertainment

by Briana Myricks | on January 26th, 2012 | 13 comments

Basketball Wives, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Love & Hip Hop, Bad Girls Club. Do these “reality” shows ring a bell? I admit, I’m guilty for watching the drama unfold, caught up in the character profiles, coming to my conclusion of who these ladies are based on their portrayal on television. However, I’m not like these women. I don’t go out to fancy restaurants and public places just to throw glasses and throw bows with the next one, regardless of our issues.

I’m certainly not bragging about how rich I am (I’m not), sleeping with men on the first night (I never have), or assuming I’m better than my frenemy (I don’t have any of those). Although I tune in to some of these shows on a regular basis, it suddenly hits me: although I know my friends and myself don’t act like these “women,” other people may be getting the idea that this is how black women act. That’s something that disturbs me.

Black women are already assumed to be loud, angry, ignorant, petty, have bad attitudes, thrive on drama, violent, promiscuous, gold diggers—the list can go on and on. We have video vixens and mothers of athletes’ children dominating the television over highly educated, hard working women. Stereotypes are one thing when shown in scripted television shows, but it takes it to new levels when it’s reality TV, because to a certain extent, this is how black women are acting in real life. We’ve replaced mothers like Claire Huxtable for mothers like Mama Jones. We’ve got “wives” shows that really showcase ex-fiancees and former girlfriends. How are people viewing us?

The scripted shows that do attempt to portray us in a positive light, such as Let’s Stay Together and Reed Between the Lines, often suffer from mediocre writing, weak laugh tracks, and forced situations. So even when we try to support these shows, we’re left wanting more. We stop tuning in, ratings drop, and the shows end up canceled. Not to mention, these shows are shown on BET, while the other shows are shown on VH1, Oxygen, and Bravo, more likely to be seen by other races. Which do you think has the more lasting impact?

Jezebel did an article based on a poll done by Washington Post, asking various questions including “Overall, do you think the images of black women in the media perpetuate stereotypes?” in which 90% of the black women responded “yes.”

We want to know what you think: are black women being negatively stereotyped on TV?

About the author

Briana Myricks is a freelance writer in Orange County, California. She blogs about life as a newlywed wife at 20 and Engaged.

Magnetpi99

Of course they are, whether scripted or reality TV. And it’s not just black women. Most images projected on TV are some form of stereotype because that is the very nature of mainstream media and it’s how the industry thrives because the people consume controversy more than readily than benign programs.

Majo

agreed. EVERYONE is stereotyped for the most part. asians, latinos etc. Even white women are stereotyped on shows like ‘new girl’. (ever seen &*%^ girls say? that’s pretty much a white girl stereotype).

Jacquiemdc

Think about this…there are places in the world where there are no Black people. Satellite television, though, can be accessed any and everywhere. For those places where there are no flesh and blood Black people who live real, complex, successful, family-focused, goal-driven, normal and decent lives, the Black people on television are the only references that exist to an entire culture. These shows have always disturbed me and I’ve never watched them for this reason. To continue to watch them and support them is to continue to perpetuate our own stereotypes on a global scale.
Chrissy0131

This article hit the nail on the head I love the part about the scripted shows that attempt to show black women in positive roles being weak and then the ratings drop and they get canceled, that rings so true. Lately I’ve been pondering this over in my head a lot, it’s so hard to tune into shows and not see anyone who looks like me and then the ones you do see get overlooked or portrayed as loud, ghetto or have a bad attitude. I want more than anything for there to be more positive black female leads in mainstream tv and movies. I look at myself and I have always been told that I have “white” tendencies but I know I am just educated and reserved, so I’d like to see more black women that act like me or the other educated black women I know. I hate that whenever there’s a black reality show the women are acting like petty high school age children, throwing drinks and pulling weaves. It’s like the media wants other races to sum us up in this manner, they don’t care to show a positive side of black women on tv. This makes me so mad!
Yana

Yeah, we are being negatively stereotyped, but we have no one to blame but ourselves since the black women who portray the stereotypes on tv not only reinforce them, but season after season sign up to do it again and again! I was just thinking about this last week with RHOA. I personally think Bravo is making a mockery of these women by sending them to Africa. I think it was strategically planned out to send them to Africa and then have those episodes air during Black History month. If you look at your calendar there are 3 episodes left which will spill over into the month of February. Black women acting a fool (by choice)…. in Africa….during Black History month….wow! These women are essentially letting Bravo pimp them out for money….
Alright Neil

“The scripted shows that do attempt to portray us in a positive light, such as Let’s Stay Together and Reed Between the Lines, often suffer from mediocre writing, weak laugh tracks, and forced situations.”

Totally true. TV (in general) has become so edgy, sometimes it’s downright corrupt and contrary to our core beliefs and values. No wonder we’re unsatisfied, when we eventually get the chance to see something wholesome. All this time, we’ve been exposed to so much drama and dysfunction…..passed off as entertainment.
PatriciaW

You forgot The Braxtons. Perhaps it’s not as violent as some of the others, but not a whole lot of positive images there either. Really dysfunctional family.

It’s sad. I still look to TV for entertainment and education. One might argue the point but I’m definitely being educated by these shows if this is how a segment of the population conducts itself. The lessons are not positive. As for entertainment value, sadly, television doesn’t offer much more than the few tepid sitcoms you referenced if Black people want to see themselves beyond a token role here and there.
http://www.womenaregamechangers.com/ WomenAreGamechangers

It’s sad but these shows do portray the stereotypes. Yes they are entertaining but many people can’t distinguish between reality tv and reality. They often assume black women are just like these women on tv. That they represent how we really act.
Kevin Warmack

I hate all of these shows with a passion. Our real black women aren’t golddiggers, pass-around-packs, public boxers, etc. The things that these “shows” do is show the greedy and seedy side of these women. And as you mentioned the shows that have the positive light get shoved in the background because of weak writing and bad ratings. It’s time for us black men to take a stand and say that we don’t like the way these shows are portraying our women.
The_fab_girls

We are the internet’s new blog for African American tweens and teens, The Fab Girls. Female and Black=FAB! Visit us at http://www.thefabgirls.wordpress.com. We appreciate articles like this because are girls are watching, and need to know that the relationships they see played out on reality shows are just one aspect of things.
N@TuRn3r

Stop the sugar coating. These shows are shown on a network predominantly viewed by our own people. We have no one to blame but ourselves for the high ratings that keep these shows on air. By watching, we’re proving that we somehow identify with the characters on these shows. Black women dug this hole for themselves and each generation seems to get worse. Black men will need to stand up and take the reigns when it comes to raising our daughters because collectively, black women are failing. Too busy trying to get attention. Then they wonder why they can’t find a man. To my good black queens, I’m so sorry that you’ve been stained because of perpetuated stereotypes. You are the goddesses that EVERY man is seeking — the example by which ALL woman should follow. Please keep your heads up.
Tiya

Yes, yes and yes! It’s a sad state if affairs. I also was guilty of watching a few if these shows. I just made the decision this year to stop. After Black Girls Rock aired I was so inspired I made the decision to no longer support shows that don’t honor us. And when quality shows air, we have to fully support them and give them a chance, they usually get better, but we have to hang in there with them and even give feedback in how they can make them better. We need those shows.
Great topic!
lee66132000

Didn’t you see the latest episode of “THE GOOD WIFE” in which two African-American females were portrayed as the episode’s main villains? It made me uneasy. And the fans’ gloating over their downfall really disgusted me.