Conflict of Interest: The Intersection of AAVE and Contention Among Cast Members in a 'Reality' TV Show

Abstract

This study investigates the proliferation of racial stereotypes in Reality TV, particularly those which represent African Americans as being inherently more aggressive and combative than White Americans. One way these stereotypes are sustained is by the artificial association between features of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and conflict constructed in Reality TV. This study focuses in particular on the Reality TV show Bad Girls Club and how the show is edited to embrace this stereotype. The purposes of this study are: (a) to identify where these stereotypes exist and how they are represented in the show (b) to identify ways in which this TV show is edited to sustain and proliferate these stereotypes and (c) to understand how analyses such as this one can shed light on the association between African American Women, AAVE, and conflict.