Ratchet Feminism/Womanism
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The Different Definitions Of Ratchet Today[edit]
Today the term ratchet has many different definitions. There is a constant debate on what is considered ratchet. When we look up what the term ratchet means, we see how the word has become empowerment amongst women. This once insult has become a compliment. We find ourselves questioning what and who is considered ratchet. Cardi B is a well-known rapper whose personality and songs have allowed her to attain a huge following. When her first hit song Bodak Yellow hit number one on the charts, many took to social media to express their dislike of Cardi B, calling her behavior “ratchet”. People stated that she acted too ghetto and was the wrong person to look up to. With this narrative, society tells us that if you are ratchet you are not successful, not well-spoken, and not a role model for what a woman should be.
Another woman who has been labeled ratchet is the well-known actress, and co-host on the talk show The View, Whoopi Goldberg. On the talk show, Whoopi and her other co-hosts discuss their view on certain topics and events going on in the world. She expresses her opinions strongly and they are not always appreciated. A woman who is usually labeled classy and well respected in the entertainment industry can quickly get the label ratchet with one wrong word. Cardi B was told she was ratchet because she was not well-spoken and didn’t behave respectfully. Whoopi was told she was ratchet because some of her well-spoken opinions were shared aggressively. So, what is considered ratchet? The definition continues to be redefined and many women continue to embrace being ratchet and turn it into a form of feminism.
The Misrepresentation of Black Women[edit]
Tyler Perry’s films Madea’s Family Reunion and I Can Do Bad All by Myself are just two of the many films Tyler Perry has made depicting black women and the issues they face. Critiques of his work are divided between empowering and disempowering. Some view Tyler’s work as empowering and emphasize a positive change for black women. While others view his work as disempowering and an inaccurate depiction of black women needing a man to save them. The angry, ratchet, and ill-mannered black woman trope has been popularized on television. The popular character Madea is an overly aggressive and gun-toting convict. Madea is played by Tyler himself, a man who makes a profit off the exaggerated misrepresentation of black women. This pattern of false narratives has been detrimental to the black community and have had an impact on how black women are perceived.
More recently, on social media, we see that many men have followed Tyler Perry and dress up to portray a woman in a comedic video. Black men dress up with hairpieces and gold hoops to depict black women as loud, aggressive, and defensive. These negative portrayals of black women only further the notion that black women act exactly how they are perceived on television. This leaves many viewers with a false narrative. These depictions are fictional, but they do have a negative effect only many black women in real life. Each black woman has depth and complexity and shouldn’t be thought of as one angry characteristic. Many black women face the struggle of showing emotions out of fear of being labeled the angry black women stereotype. Others say they feel themselves running away from certain behavior and being perceived as ratchet or ghetto.
References[edit]
https://thewonderofanime.com/2017/09/27/cardi-b-the-rise-of-the-rachet-and-why-people-are-so-mad/
https://thedailytexan.com/2018/04/03/popular-media-tropes-misrepresent-black-womanhood/
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