Blog Post 4 Racial Ideologies and Media Representation of People of Color

 Racial Ideologies and Media Representation of People of Color

    We are constantly consuming media, whether we realize it or not. Through television, advertisements, social media, etc. we are surrounded by it all the time. This kind of exposure can have a large affect on how we see ourselves and how we see others. Sometimes, especially for young children, it can be difficult to understand the difference between real life and what you see on television. Children of color can often feel like they are left out or different, and when the media they are consuming reflects this by showing no one who looks like them, these ideas and feelings are reinforced. Growing up, I always loved Disney princesses, in particular Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I think these were my favorite, in large part, because they looked like me and I felt that I identified with them in some way. Having these positive characters played a large role in how I felt about myself. I think every child needs to have someone that looks like them, that they can look up to. It can help boost confidence, not to mention help kids feel understood, appreciated, important, and seen. 

    Negative representations in media can make a big difference, as well. They can help further offensive and incorrect stereotypes about groups of people that can then have lasting effects on those groups. In class, we discussed many stereotypes portrayed in media. For example one of these was the typical roles of black women in television as either the mammy, the Jezebel, and the sassy friend. If someone were to consume this type of media, without ever having met a black woman, they might assume that these stereotypes are true and treat black women accordingly. This can be applied to any group and any stereotype. Media helps people make judgements and assumptions about entire groups without any other reasoning other than it is what they have seen, whether or not the information is founded. 
    As I just mentioned, there are many negative stereotypes shown in media about black women. With these representations, "negative" character traits are emphasized (i.e., being fiery, sexy, bossy, etc.) and they are shamed. They also serve to show that these are the only things that this group is capable of being. On the flip side, we also discussed the new Little Mermaid movie and how the Ariel is played by a black woman. This is an example of positive representation. Ariel, a beloved character serves to show little girls that they can become anything they chose, even a princess. While they are not representations of black women in the media, one is in a very limiting light, while the other opens up limitless possibilities.  

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