Image: TikTok/annesophiepf
What their signs say… cringe. Black women are TIRED.
Nothing New…
Dating shows have become a very popular form of entertainment over the years, but the mistreatment of Black women on these shows is an issue that needs to be addressed. From tokenization to erasure, Black women are often subjected to unfair treatment that perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
Tokenization
One of the most common forms of mistreatment on these shows is tokenization. Black women are often cast as the “diverse” option, intended to add a bit of variety to the cast. In other words, to check a box. To meet a quota. There is no intention of making sure they feel welcome and safe to find love.
Casting
Producers play a large roll in the success of a dating show. Producers of dating shows dictate the casting by choosing contestants based on their looks, personality, and potential for drama. After casting their token black girls, they cast men who very openly don’t date or desire black women. They vet their potential contestants thoroughly, and know about their colorist, discriminatory pasts. They don’t care, because a black woman’s pain makes good television, right? Casting men that they know will treat the women like they are invisible is harmful, and in my opinion, unethical.
Impact
The mistreatment of black women is not only harmful to the contestants and hard to watch, but it perpetuates a harmful message that black women are unloveable. For me to turn on a dating show and know that the black women will be gone within the first few episodes, it makes me, as a black woman, feel undesired. I cannot even imagine how it makes other people perceive us. I’ve even heard a man say “Well, there must be a reason why they are never picked.” This opens the door for harmful stereotypes to weigh in, when in reality the black women were set up from the start.
Do Better
As viewers, we must also hold these shows accountable. We can demand that producers do better and call out instances of mistreatment when we see them. We can refuse to watch and engage with these shows that so clearly dismiss black women. By doing this, I believe we can help create a world where black women are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve, both on and off screen.
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