Black Undergraduate Women Navigating Higher Education While Acknowledging and Challenging Media Portrayals of Black Women

• In Event: Racial Violence on Campus

Abstract

Black women exceed Black men by nearly twenty percent but remain a largely ignored population (Banks, 2009 ; Patton & Croom, 2017). As high media consumers, Black women are more susceptible to internalize the messages and portrayals presented in the media. This qualitative study of twenty-four women examined media portrayals of Black women and their influence on Black undergraduate women. Preliminary findings suggest Black undergraduate women are often viewed as angry, particularly during instances of self-advocacy. Black undergraduate women understand their physical appearance is under constant gaze. However, they no longer are interested in altering their authentic selves to appease others. Preliminary findings also suggest postsecondary institutions do not fully support Black students, particularly Black women.

Author

• Kandace Nicole Branch, Chapman University