Can a reality show perpetuate and address stereotypes? Can black women hold their own in the world of hip-hop despite being portrayed as stereotypically catty bitches?
First, K Foxx is the sole woman (out of a group of four) on the Hot 97 morning show. On air, her (male) boss implies that she got her job by sleeping around. K Foxx gets angry after the show, yelling at her boss, and calling him a "chauvinistic pig." She contends he's sullied her name when he knows that's not how she got her job, since he hired her. He contends that it was a joke in good fun, and that she is asking for special treatment because she is a woman. Oh yes, he went to that argument. Moral: women in hip-hop face sexism, while screaming at their boss!
I must say that this is something that has always pissed me off about morning shows. There is always a room full of dudes who all say annoying, sexist shit and get off with only a "come on, guys" from the token woman on the show. That is one reason why I loved "the Ladies Room," which was hosted by two (!!) women on the old Movin 92.5. Suffice it to say, that show was canceled. I guess the annoying, sexist shit sells better.
Second, Vivian and Ms. Drama continue their motiveless feud. They fight twice in public (once at Angela's bowling birthday party... yay for bowling parties!), and once in private. A reality show featuring professional black women is also featuring fighting. Two of the other women on the show say they were "embarrassed" by the fight (JasFly and Angela). Kim Osorio feels inclined to defend herself by saying that women in hip-hop generally have more credentials than men, because they had to work harder to get there. Moral: women in hip-hop get into fights, while having to constantly apologize for them!
In the episode, Kim Osorio beautifully sums up the conundrum of this show. She notes that the fight between Vivian and Ms. Drama at a public event is "unprofessional... but at the same time, I will say I am guilty of being entertained."
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