THE ISSUE

Interpersonal violence is defined as violence between individuals and is subdivided into two categories: family and intimate partner violence, and community violence. Family and intimate partner violence includes child abuse, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse. Community violence is broken down into acquaintance and stranger violence, and includes youth violence, assault by strangers, vandalism, and violence in workplaces and other institutions.

Research has shown that media stereotypes based upon race, gender, religion, or ethnic background have a negative effect on our society. It is also known that there is a causal relation between media consumption and behavior.

Reality shows like Love & Hip Hop Atlanta and Basketball Wives promote interpersonal violence as an acceptable way to handle conflict. They also cause viewers to internalize negative perceptions of Black women while simultaneously reinforcing cultural acceptance of their abuse.

Black women suffer from the highest rates of domestic violence, sexual assault, intimate partner homicide and HIV infections in the United States. Truth in Reality is not implying that cable networks have created these issues however certain types of unscripted television shows normalize interpersonal behaviors that do contribute to the overrepresentation of Black women in these areas.

THE IMPACT

Black Americans watch more television than any other race or ethnicity in the U.S.

Vh1’s reality programs are the most popular shows on cable television today.

Reality television shows such as Love & Hip Hop and Basketball Wives have been proven to be harmful to the emotional development of girls and young women.

Reality television has been proven to increase aggression in adult female viewers.

Violence and negative female stereotypes in the media predispose men towards violence against women.

Black women are the most frequent victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and intimate partner homicide.

Black teenage girls have the highest rates of dating abuse among high school students.

Studies have shown that women who are battered by their partners are three times more likely to be infected by HIV as a woman who is not abused.

Black women comprise 6% of the U.S. population but account for 57% of new HIV infections.