Marginalised communities have long been subject to caricature and negative portrayal in various media forms, particularly evident in television and film. From the 'buck' stereotype, perpetuated by figures like Bush, depicting Black men as animalistic rapists, to the 'mammy' archetype—a larger-than-life Black woman serving as caretaker and confidante to white characters—the prevalence of these stereotypes shapes societal perceptions of Black individuals as mere 'types' rather than unique individuals with their own identities. Challenging these entrenched stereotypes stands as a crucial step in combatting systemic racism. Yet, an often unnoticed recurring racist trope across media is the tendency to masculinise darker-skinned Black women.
Gone with the Wind, 1939 - Image courtesy of the New York Times
This issue intersects in various ways and can be examined concerning racism, sexism, and colourism. Black women face masculinisation in portrayals by black, white, and mainstream feminist media. They are subject to attacks and stereotypes from all angles. A term encapsulating this intersectional discrimination is 'misogynoir'. In media, black women are consistently depicted as 'strong', 'sassy', and 'indestructible', perpetuating the association of blackness with masculinity, stemming from the original 'Buck' stereotype ingrained in the public consciousness. This contrast is evident when comparing the representation of mixed-race or light-skinned black women to their darker-skinned counterparts in contemporary media. The portrayal often falls into the 'angry black woman' or 'Sapphire' caricature, labelling black women as malicious, overbearing, loud, and stubborn. These damaging stereotypes were historically used to justify enslavement and persist as an underlying theme in media depictions of black women. These traits, traditionally linked to males, are unfairly stigmatized in women, especially black women, portraying them as crass and strident. This 'pigeon-holing' of black women perpetuates an image in the media of an undesirable, masculine figure lacking innocence or beauty.
The Sapphire racist trope - Courtesy of the Jim Crow museum
This holds particularly true for darker-skinned black women, where whiteness tends to be associated with femininity while blackness is aligned with masculinity. A prime illustration of this dynamic lies in the 70s sitcom 'Sanford and Son', wherein the character Aunt Esther is depicted as dominating her husband Woodrow and portrayed as aggressive and unattractive by her family. In contrast, modern media showcases lighter-skinned or mixed-race women, aiming to diversify catalogs, runways, and screens. Unfortunately, darker-skinned women face marginal underrepresentation due to their perceived masculinity, notably evident in their limited presence on the silver screen.
"Aunt Esther", Sanford and Son - 1970s
In attempting to find a black female lead in that featured in a romantic film devoid of social justice themes, the search is challenging. Though a few names will stil come to mind—Amandla Stenberg, Zoë Kravitz, Zendaya, Thandie Newton, and Halle Berry, for instance. However, when tasked with naming a dark-skinned female lead in the role of a desirable protagonist, the list notably shrinks. This isn't to diminish the discrimination light-skinned black women face in the industry; they too encounter less pay and fewer opportunities compared to their white counterparts. Yet, dark-skinned black women are consistently marginalized, often cast in roles that masculinise them and are rarely given the chance to portray the 'love interest'.
Consider Lupita Nyong'o, a talent featured in over twenty films within the last decade. Despite her accolades, she has never portrayed a 'love interest' or starred in a film centred on a loving relationship. Films continue to depict black women as unbreakable and unlovable, a portrayal that transcends into real-life consequences. Grayman-Simpson notes that these depictions contribute to differential healthcare treatment for black women, as medical professionals base their actions on societal perceptions. Shockingly, statistics from 2020 revealed that black women in the UK are four times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth, partly attributed to biased treatment by healthcare providers. Dr. Ria Clarke emphasizes how these portrayals affect the likelihood of black women seeking help, as they feel less likely to be taken seriously. The narrative of black women being self-reliant in managing their problems only perpetuates their dismissal when seeking assistance.
Lupita Nyong'o courtesy of Getty
The evident masculinisation of black women in media significantly influences their lived experiences, subjecting them to diverse forms of societal discrimination. Combatting racism and dismantling the embedded misogyny and misogynoir within our culture necessitates a firm rejection of these damaging stereotypes. It's crucial that dark-skinned women are portrayed in media beyond mere stereotypes or tokenistic representations. True progress demands a substantive and multifaceted representation that honours the complexity and diversity of their identities.
Michaela Coel as Arabella in ' I May Destroy You' courtesy of BBC
Edited by Callum Sinclair (Sub- Editor)
Further reading
Fearing the Black Body - Sabrina Strings https://www.waterstones.com/book/fearing-the-black-body/sabrina-strings/9781479886753
White Feminism - Koa Beck - https://www.waterstones.com/book/white-feminism/koa-beck/9781398501966
Sister citizen: Shame, Stereotypes and Black Women in America - Melissa V Harris-Perry
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