Ralina Joseph facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralina Joseph
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| Professor at University of Washington | |
| Associate Dean for Diversity and Student Affairs of the Graduate School at University of Washington | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 27, 1974 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Residence | Seattle, Washington |
| Alma mater | Brown University University of California, San Diego |
| Website | https://www.ralinajoseph.net |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | |
| Doctoral advisor | Jane Rhodes |
Ralina Joseph (born October 27, 1974) is an American professor. She teaches at the University of Washington. Her work looks at how different groups, especially Black women, are shown in movies, TV, and other media. She studies how race and gender are presented.
Contents
Education and Early Career
Professor Joseph studied at Brown University, where she earned her first degree. Later, she received her master's and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, San Diego. Her studies focused on Ethnic Studies, which looks at the experiences of different ethnic groups.
Career Highlights
In 2020, Professor Joseph became an associate dean at the University of Washington's graduate school. She helps students and promotes diversity there. She is also a director and co-founder of the Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity (CCDE). This center explores how people communicate about differences. In 2019-2020, she was a special fellow at the Northwest African American Museum.
Research and Books
Professor Joseph's research often focuses on famous Black women. She studies how stars like Jennifer Beals, Tyra Banks, Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rhimes, Serena Williams, and Michelle Obama are shown in the media. Her work combines ideas from communication, cultural studies, and Black feminism.
Her first book, Transcending Blackness (2012), looked at how mixed-race Black people were shown in media. This was before Barack Obama became president. Her second book, Postracial Resistance: Black Women, Media, and the Uses of Strategic Ambiguity (2018), explores how Black women deal with racism and sexism. This happens in a world that sometimes pretends these issues no longer exist.
Professor Joseph teaches classes like Communication Power and Difference. She also created a program called Interrupting Privilege. This program helps people learn how to speak up against unfair comments or actions. In 2017, this program won an award for its work on diversity.
Key Ideas
How Mixed-Race People Are Shown
In her book Transcending Blackness, Professor Joseph talks about how mixed-race Black women are often shown in media. She describes two common stereotypes:
- New Millennium Mulatta: This stereotype shows a mixed-race woman who is often angry or punished if she talks about race.
- Exceptional Multiracial: This stereotype shows a mixed-race person who is seen as having "moved past" race. They are often presented as special because they are mixed.
Joseph explains that these stereotypes stop mixed-race Black women from showing their full identity.
Strategic Ambiguity
In Postracial Resistance, Professor Joseph introduces the idea of "strategic ambiguity." This is a way some Black women, like actress Kerry Washington, communicate. They use clever, coded language to deal with racism and sexism. It's a way to survive in a society that might not openly admit to these problems. It's not about directly calling out racism. Instead, it's about speaking in ways that protect themselves while still making a point.
Understanding Difference and Fairness
Professor Joseph believes that "equity" (fairness) and "difference" (how people are unique) are closely linked. She thinks that understanding how we communicate about differences is key to creating a fairer world. Her Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity (CCDE) works on this idea. The center teaches two main things:
- People understand differences through how they communicate.
- Powerful groups, like universities, should use their power to push for fairness.
She emphasizes that language plays a big role in how we see race. We need to talk more about how language affects inequality. Professor Joseph believes that making changes in classrooms and schools can lead to bigger changes in the world.
Awards and Honors
- GO-MAP Faculty Leadership Award from the University of Washington (2013)
- Undergraduate Research Mentor Award from the University of Washington (2017)
- Sapphire Distinguished Faculty Award from the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center (2017)
- Woman of Courage Award from the University of Washington Women's Center (2017)
- Presidential Term Professorship (2018)
- University of Washington Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award (2018)
See also
- List of University of Washington People
