Abstract
This phenomenological study aims to empower the voices of Black women in America by discovering what meaning they ascribe to the experience of coming in contact with media portrayals of themselves. Building on existing research on counteracting media stereotypes and reducing deleterious outcomes, this study provides critical insights into the lived experiences of Black women, shedding new light on strategies to challenge stereotypes and promote positive outcomes. The essence of semi-structured interviews with 10 participants revealed a fervent desire for diverse and nuanced portrayals, evoking feelings of freedom and not being “boxed in.” Our research introduces the concept of Black Pro Social Media, defined as Black produced content that fosters and promotes positive racial identity, self-concepts, and ingroup attitudes. Key findings draw attention to the perpetuating effects of media stereotypes and undersscore the influential power Black media producers possess to combat stereotype-related harms. Given our study findings, we encourage Black content creators to take into consideration a collective effort to promote counter-stereotypical representations of Black women.
Presenters
Leaf SeeneyGraduate Research Teaching Assistant, Communication, Georgia State University, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Africana Womanism, Black Prosocial Media, Critical Media Effects, Media Stereotypes
