Representation of Black women in true crime

Abstract

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 6/1/2023] True crime is an increasingly popular and relevant genre in media. However, how certain groups, including Black women, are portrayed in this genre is understudied. The purpose of my research was to study the specific representations of Black women in true crime media and examine how these representations either adhered to or diverged from stereotypical depictions of Black women in media. My primary question was: "How are Black women portrayed in true crime media?" To answer this, I conducted a qualitative textual analysis of select true crime television episodes, using black feminism as my theoretical framework. The study found that texts that featured Black women as perpetrators of crime utilized historically found stereotypes of Black women. Newer texts, which featured Black women as victims/survivors, mothers of victims and as expert voices, tended to humanize Black women.