Essay about The Effects of Media on African American Females

Can you imagine living in a world in which your beauty is not seen as beauty at all? Many black women wake up to this reality every morning. Living the life of an African American female is difficult because you do not fit into the Eurocentric paradigm in which you are forced to be reminded of daily. Media shows us as a people who we are and how we are supposed to be. Media affects black women in a negative way because it portrays black women in a negative way. Black women have to face the effects of being over-sexualized through media. As a result of African American women being over-sexualized and used for only their appearances, they feel obligated to focus on their appearance and sexuality. This is because they are shown through media†¦show more content†¦Black children watch these broadcasts and commercials, but hardly see anyone who looks like them. Famous African American females also have to face the reality that their beauty is not accepted in society. Various interviews were conducted for a documentary named â€Å"Imagine A Future: My Black Is Beautiful.† Amongst the women interviewed were Tatiana Ali, Gabby Douglas, Gabourey Sidbe, and Adepero Oduye. The women share stories with the interviewers about incidents that lowered their self-esteem. â€Å"A former coach told me I needed to fix my nose [have] surgery on my nose†¦it kinda lowered my self-esteem, and I just remember looking in the mirror like maybe I do,† Douglas explains. Such insensitivity and ignorance has been expressed to these women by authority figures and people they know. Adepero Oduye shares a few comments that were made to her by people she cared for. She says, the people say you never work with hair like that, natural hair†¦I thought about changing my name; somebody suggested I get a nose job†¦and Im just like Im just trying to be me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she continues by pointing out that â€Å"the message was, who I am isn’t enough.† In addition to being beat down by those around them, Famous African American women tear themselves down also. LupitaShow MoreRelatedAfrican-American Studies Has Been Set In Place To Broaden1347 Words   |  6 Pages African-American studies has been set in place to broaden an individual s knowledge based on the history, literature, politics, and the lifestyle of Black Americans. Course 271 has helped me realize what African-American Studies is as an interdisciplinary field. It is not just a discipline, it is so much more. African-American studies is a way to learn about individuals outside Black History Month. 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