Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1997

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Communication

Major Professor

Dhyana Ziegler

Committee Members

Barbara Moore, Jeffery S. Wilkinson

Abstract

The research explored perceptions of stereotypes of Light-Skinned black women versus Dark-Skinned black women in the 1990's television situation comedies, Living Single and Family Matters. This study was designed to discover information about stereotypes of black females and generate questions to pursue further research. The method of analysis for the study was two-fold: Focus Groups and Survey Research. The purpose of the study was to assess individual's perceptions of stereotypes of Light-Skinned versus Dark-Skinned black female stereotypes in television situation comedies Living Single and Family Matters and examine how those perceptions related to race. Fifteen participants were divided into two groups by race and each group was led by the same moderator, through four components during a maximum of two hour session. The participants were administered a Perception Assessment Survey, then a Pre-Test Questionnaire after which they viewed two thirty-minutes situation comedies. They were given Post-Test Questionnaires after viewing the two focus groups programs and led into a discussion by a moderator where they answered open ended questions. The research found that race determined to a certain extend how the two focus group participants perceived Light-Skinned versus Dark-Skinned black female stereotypes in the two situation comedies.

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