Perceptions of the Black Woman: Deconstructing and Reclaiming Societal Myths
Black woman in the music industry are not valued or favored in the same manner as white female artists. When they do assert their femininity, sexuality, or political views, or they display emotions, they are reprimanded by society at large. By examining three female celebrities, I analyzed the way in which society has perceived and reacted to the stereotypes that these women have reclaimed. The underlying question is why does it matter how black women choose to position themselves in society? The women who are subjects within this thesis are examples of how society lays claim in the inability to glorify black women without first policing their actions. Consider whether being a black woman hinders one from "re-appropriating" the stereotypes—or whether society is claiming that black women can only be confined to a space that allows room for certain stereotypes to escape through the cracks.