Short Response for Feb/3rd

I totally agreed with Shanshan’s post. I also agreed that there is a subtle difference between the way white women are portrayed on TV shows compared to black women. Douglas explains how white women are often put into characters that are very attractive with some sort of power. Women are constantly fighting the pressure that are placed among men to look beautiful and are constantly objectified, which in the end just frustrates woman and makes them want to lash out towards men. It was interesting how Douglas commented on how the behaviours of black women can differ in the media than those of white women. She states that white women are supposed to be diplomatic, conciliatory, and nurturing at home and at work. She further explains that they are not supposed to be too tough or have a sharp tongue and if they do they are come across as being a “bitch”. Black women have the opportunity to be code-switching woman. They can one minute be very professional and follow the middle-class norm, and the next switch and use Black Speak and ultimately make feminism hip, cool, and funny. She uses examples like Oprah and Queen Latifah who are black woman that are all successful powerful woman. After reading this chapter it made me wonder how professional white woman would be portrayed if they threw in a few slang words or informal speech? In my opinion it would probably degrade them. Whereas in a professional setting if a white male did this, I think that people would like him better because he would seem more easy-going.