Real Sister

Stereotypes, Respectability, and Black Women in Reality TV

Author: Jervette R. Ward
ISBN: 9780813575063

From The Real Housewives of Atlanta to Flavor of Love, reality shows with predominantly black casts have often been criticized for their negative representation of African American women as loud, angry, and violent. Yet even as these programs appear to be rehashing old stereotypes of black women, the critiques of them are arguably problematic in their own way, as the notion of “respectability” has historically been used to police black women’s behaviors.   The first book of scholarship devoted to the issue of how black women are depicted on reality television, Real Sister offers an even-handed consideration of the genre. The book’s ten contributors—black female scholars from a variety of disciplines—provide a wide range of perspectives, while considering everything from Basketball Wives to Say Yes to the Dress. As regular viewers of reality television, these scholars are able to note ways in which the genre presents positive images of black womanhood, even as they catalog

Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Publish Date: 2015-11-02

Subjects: Social Science / Media Studies, Performing Arts / Television / History & Criticism, Social Science / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies, Social Science / Women's Studies

This book is available in the following Community Centers: Cross-Cultural Center (Location: WMYN)