Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Are Young Women Starting to Imitate Reality TV Stars?

Black Women in the media

By: Dea Win, Pretty Girls Rock Dresses™

This afternoon, Atlanta’s DJ Ryan Cameron of V-103 had local teachers on his show discussing the effects of reality tv on our youth. As I listened to the radio show, my mind took me back to my impressionable teenage years. I remember my shero was T-Boz from TLC. I wore a short “Halle Berry” haircut; my jeans stayed baggy; and I kept a fresh pair of white Reebok classics. On several occasions I dragged my mama to the mall to find colorful suits like ones Pam and Gina wore on Martin. I wanted to embody the persona of the 90′s woman, a woman full of class, intellect, independence, and success.

Fast forward to 2011 and the once regal persona has turned into one of tackiness. We have young women emulating the unlady like behavior of the characters from the Basketball Wives. There was an incident over the weekend, reported by TMZ, where a group of young women took out their negative behavior on Trey Songzand his date. These young girls, attempting to get close to Songz, attacked his date by throwing their drinks on her. The attack resulted in a fight that is now viral on the internet. What a way to get Trey’s attention! It is disturbing to see young women behave in such a way.

I wonder where did we go wrong? How did our branding shift from one of empowerment to one of crudeness. We have very grown women misbehaving poorly on national TV. We have constant scrutiny on our lack of healthy relationships. Just last Friday, I saw a horrific billboard in the middle of downtown Atlanta suggesting that “ABORTION IN THE HOOD” is a real problem. I am sick of black women being branded as classless, rude, and ugly. Our young men and women are soaking this crap up on a daily basis. According to the teachers that called into the radio show so many impressionable girls are taking on the negative characteristics of the characters of the reality shows. These characteristics includes promiscuity, chasing after the trappings of the good life, relying on the external instead of refining the internal, and not loving themselves. One teacher spoke about several of her young girls desiring relationships with “ballers” in hopes of getting the “good” life. Is this normal for young girls, or is this the impact of our depictions in the media? I sometimes wonder where would I be if there were Basketball Wives and Real Housewives back in 1996.

Where do we go from here? I suggest we let our voices be heard. Demand positive representation in the media. Act as role models for young women and young men in your community. We need to counteract the negativity that bombards us constantly. A branding face lift is a must. We should boycott such depictions. Sure it’s entertaining to see the drama but are our girls worth the expense?

We are the CHANGE we want and need in the world.

Dea Win, owner and founder of Pretty Girls Rock Dresses™. Motivating women of all ages to embrace beauty, charm, and intellect. There’s POWER in the DRESS, PURSE, and STILETTO. ™

40 comments:

Unknown said...

Something to think about. Consider this what are we personally doing to reinforce such behavior from our children. Who have we surrounded ourselves with in our lives to promote more positive or negative behavior for our children and their friends. Have we left them on their own to figure it out.
Sounding redundant but it does begin at home and it does take a village to raise a child.

Thomasboro Neighborhood Association said...

I had the Salt-n-Pepper hair do. My attire was reasonably professional, even in high school. I was taught to dress where I wanted to be. I was impressed by professional power and achievement. College women were all around me. That set my plight. With enough people stirring a disgust for reality tv drama and hood crazed foolishness, there will be a change in the world.

Eclectically_Me said...

I agree wholeheartedly. However, I would like to add that it seems to be a matter of not only our African-American girls that are suffering from the constant display of bad behavior from adult women, but girls/teens of all races. With shows like the Bad Girls Club, Teen Mom and so on and so forth; these young impressionable souls are inundated by such foolery daily. These girls are obviously confused by what is appropriate behavior and what is not. They are ignorant to the fact that 95% of the time these women on these reality shows are performing and often times their behavior on television isn't a true reflection of their character. I'm saddened by what our youth of today deems as 'cool' or the 'good life', according to what they see on TV.

Anonymous said...

I came in from Atlanta. I already know how "bad" those folks got it in that state for wannabe celeb status and reality show drama ... been talking about it for years. But they're not going to pay any attention to it until there's some really bad fallout, that much I know. I was raised in Georgia, lived there for 40 years - 18 of it in Atlanta. They don't DO jack ... until it's too late.

Sojourner Marable Grimmett said...

Thank you for starting this important conversation!

-MS. MOCHA said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
-MS. MOCHA said...

The IDIOT BOX lives up to it's name by PROMOTING some REALITY SHOWS which are SYNONYMOUS to the BOWELS of a MODERN DAY SLAVESHIP, by SHOWCASING/COMMENDING those BEINGS of a MEDIOCRE, MELDED MELEE of $$HUNGRY MENDICANTS, who I pray @ some point, will DEVELOP PRIDE & OBEISANCE to ASSIMILATE MERITORIOUS WORTH. -MS. MOCHA

Anonymous said...

Regarding Black women being classless, rude, and UGLY. The "ugly" part by that Japanese man--White women are behind that, and other smears at Black women. In addition to all the Rappers negativity about Black women, there is also the White woman in on it. Look at what Tina Fey did on her final show with the Black guy calling us Black women "nappy headed and ugly." he probably didn't even know he was being used as a pawn by White women. Pay closer attention.

Anonymous said...

Great article!

Anonymous said...

It begins with HOMETRAINING. Remember that word. I do.

whinny said...

Hometraining isn't nearly enough to help set youth straight. Even if the mother is doing her part at home once that child leaves her presence they're subjective to all kinds of negativity. Most young women idolize females like N. Minaj whose doing nothing positive oncesoever, everywhere you turn media is capitalizing on crude portraits of black women. Escaping this kind of behavior depends on how strong that individial's will is.

whinny said...

Hometraining isn't nearly enough to help set youth straight. Even if the mother is doing her part at home once that child leaves her presence they're subjective to all kinds of negativity. Most young women idolize females like N. Minaj whose doing nothing positive oncesoever, everywhere you turn media is capitalizing on crude portraits of black women. Escaping this kind of behavior depends on how strong that individial's will is.

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