Editor’s
Note: This Q&A is one of a series of articles exploring the
research University of Delaware students have been pursuing. Though
COVID-19 continues to shape some plans, students still can participate
in hundreds of remarkable projects, in-person and remotely. Follow our
“Frontiers of Discovery” series as UDaily highlights some of these
scholars.
Among quarantine’s greatest companions, subscriptions to streaming
services soared during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching a record 1.1
billion in 2020, according to the Motion Picture Association.
As these platforms have solidified their permanent place in our
hearts and homes, they’ve also become the subject of study for
researchers, including the University of Delaware senior Charise Lewis.
A Dover native, Lewis majors in
communication with minors in advertising and women and gender studies.
Outside of the classroom, she serves as the president of UD’s New
Magazine and as an Oral Communication Consultant at the Writing Center.
Q. What are you studying this summer and with whom?
Lewis: I am studying the portrayal of Black women within the
media, specifically analyzing content on streaming services. We are
identifying the presence of stereotypes among Black women characters
across 220 episodes of 70 different shows that have aired on Apple TV,
Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, PBS and Prime Video within the last two
years. I am studying with the help of my faculty mentor, Professor
[Morgan] Ellithorpe, and friend, Sarah Jones, who is helping me code as
well.
Q: What initially drew you to research?
Lewis: I actually went to the National Communication
Association Conference during my sophomore year, where I saw
communications research that had a focus on race and gender for the
first time. That was what really gave me the push to pursue my own
research, because I learned that I could investigate something that I
felt passionate about and connected to.
Q. What motivated you to study this topic?
Lewis: My motivation came mostly from my identity. The
discrimination and humilation of Black bodies were once forms of
entertainment. For example, sexual violence against Black women was
justified by their common portrayal as promiscuous "Jezebels.” As the
civil rights movement and the fight to end discrimination progressed,
media strayed away from these outright negative stereotypes. As a Black
woman learning and understanding this history, I wanted to take a closer
look at the present to see if there are still lingering effects.
Q: What have you found most surprising about this work so far?
Lewis: Time does play an important role in how these
characters are portrayed. The ways in which Black women were depicted in
older shows are noticeably different than how they are presented now.
Many of the stereotypes that have recurred, like the "matriarch," are
more subtle now than before. They are more hidden because newer
stereotypes have also emerged, including the "strong Black woman." What
is also surprising is the complexity of some of the characters that I
have looked at. That, I think, is due in part to the media’s unconscious
reinforcement of old patterns even as they try to move forward. But
it’s also a reflection of the real pressures of Black women within
society, constantly trying to navigate and dodge all of those
stereotypes, one after the other. Those two things are interactional.
Q: What are the possible real-world applications for your study?
Lewis: I think that content creators and media outlets would
benefit greatly from this research. By utilizing work like this before
sharing their stories, they can avoid subconsciously reinforcing
negative stereotypes, shed a more positive light on our community and
ultimately create more black love.
Q: How would you explain your work to a fifth grader?
Lewis: I would say that my research involves looking at how
new shows showcase people like me, what it means, how it affects the way
we see ourselves and how other people see us in the real world.
Q: How does this experience align with your broader professional goals?
Lewis: My research shows where my passion is. I want to be
able to work within the field of media communication, using information
that I have obtained to work more effectively. I think that it is
important to have people in the field that understand the implications
of how we portray race and gender before doing it. I also would not mind
teaching. I could definitely see the value of a women's studies or
communication course about this subject.
Q: What advice would you give to your fellow students who may be considering or are planning to pursue undergraduate research?
Lewis: Do what feels natural to you. Pursue your interests and
your passions — pick a topic that you will not get bored of. Once you
get started, you are going to have deadlines, but don’t forget to go at
your own pace. Breaks are necessary and taking a step back can give you a
new perspective.
