What About Solutions? The Socio-historical Development of Adolescent African American Women’s Sexual Scripts

How African American Girls/Women become freaks, gold-diggers,

November 24th, 2008 — Contributor Post

We know what the problems are. What About Solutions? WAOD is starting a series to focus on people or groups who are doing their part to fight the War on Black women. Our first What About Solutions Contributor is Njeri Santana, the founder and owner of Urban Playdates. Urban Playdats is a FREE social-networking site connecting parents & caregivers that are raising or involved in raising children of color www.urbanplaydates.com

By Njeri Santana:

Have you checked out the avatars on some of these black gossip sites? Is it me or doesn’t it seem like some of these women are posting pics from their soft porn portfolio? Sad part is that these soft porn pics are more prevalent on teen myspace pages. Why?

Looks like Dionne P. Stephens has the answer. I came across Dr. Stephens’ paper Freaks, Gold Diggers, Divas and Dykes: The Socio-historical Development of Adolescent African American Women’s Sexual Scripts. After reading her paper I had what Oprah likes to say was my “aha” moment.

Dr. Stephens’ “examines socio- historical factors shaping minority populations’ sexual health processes, with emphasis on gender and ethnic/ racial identity development. Her most recent research examines the constructions of sexual scripts and their influence on sexual risk outcomes across ethnic groups.”

What is a sexual script? Sexual scripts are culturally defined as a set of guidelines prescribing appropriate forms of sexual behavior and ways of managing sexual encounters. Think of it as the blueprint or roadmap that outlines visual descriptions or actions of characters and their dialogue.

Dr. Stephens not only breaks down the history of the sexual scripts that African American teens are bombarded with. She provides extensive examples of these scripts as well as how men view women within each script.

Let’s take a look at one…. the Gold Digger.

According to Stephens the Gold Digger trades social status for sex describes the Diva, it is the Gold Digger who trades sex for a harder currency. A Gold Digger is a woman who explicitly seeks material and economic rewards above all else, and is willing to trade sex for it. Sex is her commodity because it is the only valuable thing she has in society. …Gold Diggers seem to have the most obvious awareness that sex is their most powerful commodity. Sex may be used to barter for basic needs such as a bag of groceries, getting rent paid, or making sure their lights do not get turned off. However, manicures and pedicures, new clothing, vacations, or having a car note paid are also possible wants that Gold Diggers may be willing to trade sex to get…..the sexual links to poverty and its relevance to survival are clear. Their lives have been called “ghetto fabulous,” where they are socially embedded in a culture of poverty, yet have the economic means to procure middle-class goods. The song “Project Chick” (2001) by male rappers Big Tymers discusses how their financial means can entice a Gold Digger to give up and put out”

How often have you seen a teen looking like a video vixen on the street and said to yourself “what is going on in that child’s mind”? After reading Dr. Stephens paper you will have a clear idea and that’s what makes this paper sooo powerful.

Dr. Stephens’ is truly a warrior in the fight against the media’s distorted perceptions of African American women. She’s fighting the war by “identifying developmental factors promoting resilience and buffering negative health outcomes” Yes negative outcomes like rape, HIV, domestic abuse and teen pregnancy. Can’t be made at that can we?

Want to play a game. Here’s a list of the sexual scripts listed in Dr. Stephens’ paper. Write the first image that comes to your mind. Once you’ve completed this exercise read her paper and compare your images to her definition.

Jezebel

Mammy

Welfare Mother

Matriarch

The Diva

Gold Digger

Freak- aka slut ho chicken head hood rat floozy women

Dykes

Gangster Bitch

The Sister Savior

The Earth Mother

Baby Mama

Dr. Stephens’ goal is to identify developmental factors promoting resilience and buffering negative health outcomes. I interviewed Dr. Dionne P. Stephens on The Urban Playdates podcast where she spoke about her work.

If you’ve found a solution or know of a group or individual taking action to fight the War on Black Women, feel free to contribute a What About Solutions? guest post so that we can highlight them. Contact us for more information. Note, WE aren’t writing the post, YOU ARE!