Representation of African American Women on Television : The (De)Construction of Stereotypes about Black Women

This paper examines the underlying stereotypes black women have to contend with and how they are dealt with in the television show Scandal. The stereotypes examined are those of the Mammy, the Sapphire, the Jezebel, the Angry Black Woman, the Strong Black Woman and the Tragic Mulatta, as well as the stereotype of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson often associated with interracial couples. By examining various scenes from the show in relation to each of the aforementioned stereotypes, what sticks out is that some stereotypes are deconstructed fully, while others are harder to escape from. However, the final conclusion of this paper is that the main character of the show, Olivia Pope, although confronted with these stereotypes, often manages to subvert them and offers a different take on what is conventionally showcased on television when it comes to the representation of African American women, proving the cultural impact and worth of the show for future representations of African American women on television