Breaking Through Stereotypes

Jason Kleinman

Professor Simonson

Introduction to Women’s Studies

April 1, 2011

Breaking Through Stereotypes

This person is smart, funny, powerful, married, classy, well-spoken, career oriented, successful, and driven. This person has broken through countless stereotypes that have been cast in modern society. This person could be a part of innumerable societal norms associated with this person’s race and gender but has risen above all of them. This person is Michelle Obama. The aforementioned adjectives that can be used to describe Michelle Obama normally would not be used to describe a black woman in modern society. Black women are discriminated against for two reasons; because they are women and because they are black. This duel set of vulnerabilities has made it very difficult for black women to break through stereotypes. Statistics show that black women are inferior to black men, white women, and white men in many walks of life. Additionally, they are considered suitable for certain jobs that imply that they are second-rate citizens. A woman who completely breaks through this duel discrimination is rare. These stereotypes, amongst others, contribute to modern media’s portrayal of black women. They are seen not only as sex objects, but animalistic sex objects. Slavery has been over for over a hundred years and yet black women are still portrayed as though they are animalistic commodities. Michelle Obama is a refreshing exception to the generally accepted stereotypes about African American women. She is also someone who is very visible in the media, and has therefore broken media consistencies as well. Michelle Obama’s story and sophisticated image seen through the media, is revolutionary for African American women.

Forty percent of black women do not get married before they are fifty-four. Black women, for the same hours worked, earn eighty-five cents for every dollar earned by white women, eighty-seven cents for every dollar earned by black men, and sixty-three cents for every dollar earned by white men. Over thirteen percent of black female workers are poor as opposed to five percent of white female workers, 7.7 percent of black male workers, and 4.4 percent of white male workers. All of these statistics solidify the idea that black women have gender and racial inequalities to overcome. Additionally, black women are considered suitable for certain jobs that imply their inferiority to men and to white people. A prime example of said profession is paid household work. Barbara Ehrenreich in “Maid to Order” talks about how after second wave feminism, women wanted men to contribute to household work. Men were not particularly happy with this request, which caused tension in many marriages. Instead of working through these problems, people began to hire maids. These maids were and still are predominantly female and are mostly African American (or of other minority decent). White middle class men are often responsible for hiring these African American women to work in their homes. This further perpetuates the sexual and racial divide that has become common in modern society. This is one of many examples where black women are stereotyped as inferior in contemporary culture.

Michelle Obama is a clear exception to all of these stereotypes. She is the First Lady of the United States, she graduated Princeton University as an undergraduate and Harvard Law School. She also had a flourishing career as a corporate lawyer and was an executive at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Michelle Obama trumps any stereotypes or societal norms associated with black women. The feats that she has achieved are predominantly thought of, in society, as only attainable by white males. Nevertheless, she has not only broken through the sexist barriers that plague modern society, but she has broken through racist barriers as well. While Mrs. Obama’s accomplishments are impressive, the most intriguing part of her achievements is her sophisticated and tasteful presence in the media and the fact that her success story is so widely publicized.

Generally, black women have been portrayed in the media as animalistic and uncivilized. This is a tactic that is used across many mediums and although it has come to be widely accepted, it is extremely demeaning to African American women. The way that Destiny’s Child is represented in the media is a great example of this belittling media tactic. They have been pictured on album covers, promotional advertisements, etc, in animalistic clothing. They have even been depicted in cages in some cases. Black women have overcome many obstacles since the time of slavery. However, modern media tactics have sent African American women back hundreds of years and perpetuated stereotypes that black women experience every day. Michelle Obama represents an exception in this media ploy. Michelle Obama’s success and elegant character is highly publicized because of her status as the First Lady of the United States. She does commercials, gives televised speeches, and goes on televised talk shows. Throughout all of her public appearances she upholds a classy, well spoken, and sophisticated character

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2bq_H5vJnI). She is arguably the most visible black woman in the United States and has revolutionized the way that black women are represented in the media.

Michelle Obama is a rare but phenomenal success story. As an African American woman she had both racial and gender biases to get passed. She had to overcome statistical evidence showing that African American women aren’t meant to make as much money as men as well as professional stereotypes that place African American women as maids for middle class white families. She not only succeeded in overcoming these obstacles, but anyone with a television or radio knows about her story. She constantly trumps all of the media sources that portray African American women in a demeaning way, as she is elegant and professional in all of her public endeavors. Michelle Obama revolutionized the way that African American women are seen in the media and she did so intentionally. From the very beginning of Barack Obama’s campaign, Michelle said, “If all I do is show that we’re not all from welfare families or [all] athletes, but we’re ordinary professionals in functional families, that will be enough” (Conrad). Although Michelle Obama has not changed the way that the media depicts African American women, she is well publicized proof that African American women can and do succeed in modern society. Her story represents a step in the right direction for African American women.

http://www.america.gov/st/business-english/2009/July/20090126163119BErehelleK0.5277063.html

http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=black_women_the_unfinished_agenda