Blog Assignment #5

I believe that an important factor that needs to be addressed are the stereotypes of black women and men because not only are they influencing the ways in which black women view black men and vise versa, but these stereotypes are oftentimes subconsciously internalized by both black men and women. Addressing this issues would certainly be no easy task because these stereotypes are deeply ingrained and rooted among society, groups, and individuals. I think that the black community needs to be better educated in a number of different ways. Firstly, they need to acknowledge and realize that they are internalizing these stereotypes because like I said it is largely subconscious, and likely never on purpose. By acknowledging these self-fulfilling prophecies black men and women can begin to challenge these stereotypes, and hopefully realize just that - that they are just stereotypes. Secondly, I think that these stereotypes need to not only be recognized in how they are manifesting in oneself but how the black community is buying into stereotypes about the opposite sex. While I’m sure many black women and men are in some ways aware of this issue I think by bringing it to the forefront and getting a deeper understanding of the detrimental effects of these stereotypes they can begin to decrease their power. Lastly there should be more education on the dying of marriages in the black community because without full knowledge of the issue and the negative effects it has on the black community now and in the future there is a much lesser likelihood that the issue will improve. There is still a cause for concern, and in order to address this issue something needs to be done. 

Stereotypes about black men and women have affected the black family because black men hold negative stereotypes about black women, and black women hold negative stereotypes about black men which is affected the rate at which they form relationships. African American men believe that the women are “undesirable,” “domineering,” and “second-best,” while African American women believe that the men are “unreliable and preoccupied with sexual exploitation.” Due to these stereotypes that the other gender believes about the other they are getting married at a much lower rate than in the past because they don’t view each other as suitable or compatible partners. 

1. I’ll lose anyone who gets close to me 

During slavery there were no guarantees that African Americans would stay with their families, and often times they were separated when family members were sold to other plantations or slave owners. Slaves were aware of this risk, and they knew that if they got close to family members or even friends that their would be a high chance of getting hurt when they were separated. Due to this, slaves often times distanced themselves from others or at least made sure not to get attached because the risk of being separated was unpredictable. 

2. I’m not good enough to be loved 

Slaves were not treated as human beings, and were seen more as a piece of property by slaveholders and the majority of society. African Americans were taught that whites were inferior, and that they should be ashamed of their outward appearance. Because this was all they knew these ideals were internalized and therefore believed that these statements were true. They did not see themselves as good enough and therefore did not believe that they were capable of being loved. 

Responsibility-accountability and autonomy were the top two themes that emerged as most prominent for the men interviewed in the study. I was surprised that responsibility-accountability was number one because of the well known stereotype that African American men are irresponsible, but I think that is the important part to take into account - is it is a stereotype, not a truth. For autonomy I wasn't as surprised because I can imagine that is an important value among not only African American men, but men in general. I also wonder if this in any way relates to the low marriage rates because if a man is single then he is required to have high autonomy and independence.