To sometimes feel as if black women experience pre-judgment based on stereotypes?

[ImagineMe06]

I feel like there are some stereotypes that some people hold about women who happen to be black and sometimes, I’ve found myself being judged through the lense of these prejudgements. (I’m a black woman myself)

I’ve tried adjusting my behaviour to make sure I’m as far away from the stereotype that this person may hold (based on what they have said). But it’s hard...

This article can illustrate what I’m attempting to describe for those who may not be aware of it or have never experienced it before:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/feb/08/black-women-mental-health-high-rates-depression-anxiety

Can’t open the link Imagine

For example, I’ve been in situations where I have been falsely accused of stealing, when the shopkeeper found out that I hadn’t taken anything, they never apologised. This happened to me a few times.

I assume there must be some stereotype out there that black people (or maybe the girls/women) are more likely to steal than others. That’s hurtful.

Sorry @Lovingbenidorm, I think you have to copy and paste the link into your search bar, I’m not sure how to post a link

Can't open your link Imagine, but I don't doubt there are pre judgements black women suffer from.

I can honestly say I personally have never treated anyone differently based on race, but you know what's happened to you, and that's valid.

Still can’t open it! But generally would say that sadly stereotypes are everywhere. It’s the basis of prejudice.
It’s unpleasant and wrong but it exists.

I'm intrigued by stereotypes. Really it's just confirmation bias backed up by mainstream media.

Geeky nerds who like star wars and robots
Redheaded women having fiery tempers
Blondes being a bit thick
White people cant dance, black people can

Do stereotypes exist because our physical attributes contribute to our actions or do we play up to stereotypes because its how we've learnt 'we' are supposed and expected to behave. Or in OP's case do you rebel against what is expected of you and act the opposite.

I generally find a grain of truth in them but largely they are complete bollocks.

The shopkeeper in your scenario....maybe he gets robbed a few times by a black woman, he now stereotypes black women as thieves. He pays more attention to them and low and behold catches more black women stealing than white women. It's not to say WW aren't stealing, but they aren't being caught because he's now focusing on the black women.

Redhead in the next car over beeps her horn and shouts at you in traffic. Ah the fiery redhead, confirming the stereotype, but you don't think about all the meek and mild redheads you know.

I can't stand watching that Marlon sitcom on Netflix. It plays into every black stereotype there is with a little twist at the end where Marlon and his family inevitably learn some lesson or moral to set them on the right (white) road. Bloody awful programme. Surprised he hasn't been called out by black twitter for perpetuating shitty stereotypes tbh

I have never in real life ever seen a black person 'clap' at someone. Can hardly get through a programme or movie without a black person doing it. Cringingly awful.

Do you shout out in the cinema op?

Yes, it's a shit situation and yanbu. I think we can all be victims of stereotyping, but the impression I get is that black people carry the weight of actively battling those stereotypes every day, carrying the mental load of monitoring their behaviour. As the article confirms, it must be simply exhausting.

Yup i can confirm. People assume I'm christian/religious.. Have family abroad, love certain foods.

People assume i grew up in the inner city.. I grew up on a farm im a village like emmerdale!!

The biggest assumption is that my partner must be black. Nope he's white. Infact i live in a very white area, white workplace etc. So infact the probabilities of me meeting a black male are slim.. Then the chances i meet a black male that i also fancy and fancies me back and have things in common with even slimmer. Its just as likely me to date a non white person as it is for a white person. But it doesn't stop peoples shock when they discover my partner isn't black hahaha.

Tbh most the stereotypes i come across haven't necessarily been negative.. Just wrong!

Sorry I couldn't open then link.However as women we are often judged by stereotype,if you are obviously black or Asian other assumptions are piled on top.You are right OP and it is unjust.

@Gamechanger12e3 I was watching a thing on youtube where strangers had to put ten random people into their couples by guesswork.

7 white people, 1 asian, 1 black and 1 mixed race.

She admitted at the end she wanted to put the two black people together but didn't because she thought it would be stereotyping.

The two black people were actually together

@clarissa hahaha thats funny! I remember once going on a double date with my female friend and her boyfriend. She is white and her boyfriend is black. The waiter assumed me and her boyfriend were together and she my boyfriend were!
I wasn't offended but times like i that suddenly remember people 'see colour' whereas i am blissfully in my own bubble. When people look at me they see a 'black woman' not just a 'woman' and i get a quick sharp shock regularly when people say certain things!

Gamechanger, the most awful one i've seen was on the school run. Substitute teacher comes out to let the kids out. Two black children in the class. She walks over to the mother and starts talking to her about her DD's hair (she had multicolour beads when you're only allowed school colours). Mum stands there politely listening for a few minutes and then says 'yes I appreciate what you are saying but you're probably best speaking to her ACTUAL mum who is stood over there, she's the other black woman'

Teacher looked like she wanted to die.

Yeah I think negative & positive stereotypes exist everywhere, unfortunately OP. It sucks & im sorry you’ve had to go through it.

While We were in the US during the summer we repeatedly got jokes and digs about being big drinkers because we are Irish. Personally I laugh it off but it does really offend my cousin, who is teetotal. There was one waitress in particular who kept making jokes about the Irish always being drunk and argumentative / aggressive - that did make me 🙄 ....but to be fair I was making redneck jokes in my mind while she was doing that 🤫

One of the best modules I studied at university was America in the Sixties. This was a few years ago. I already knew about white privilege but learning about Jim Crow and reading Black Like Me and other texts, taught me so, so much more. I genuinely felt ashamed for many months, to be white and therefore part of the problem. On my birthday last year I had a drinks fueled tirade at my partner about someone who had been racist and I explained why it was racist and how both his and my own privilege caused a lot of us to think what he had thought. I didn't realise a few younger women were listening, one was black and was really pleased with what I had said and how I'd explained it. But I know that so many people don't listen, either they don't have the capacity to, or they simply don't want to. This isn't exactly about stereotyping, but your post reminded me of it. I try hard not to stereotype people. I hate it when people stereotype me. It's rude and ignorant.

I hear you op. It's exhausting having to behave a certain way in order to make sure white people feel comfortable with you.

I'm so conscious of carefully choosing my words, being extra friendly etc so as not to be seen as the 'aggressive' black woman. Sometimes I'll have a bad day and can't express that for fear of being stereotyped. You never get to just represent yourself, you represent your gender and race. Therefore the burden of being yourself takes a mental toll.