Married To Medicine Black Doctors and Wives

Even when African American women were doctors and doctor’s wives, they were still portrayed in a negative light and in very stereotypical roles. As to suggest that all African American women, no matter what social class they belong to, but all act the same. The show is popular because it’s based on its drama filled episodes, where all the women are balancing their lives as mothers, wives, and socialites. Each cast member had stereotypical roles and the wives were portrayed more negatively than the actual female doctors.

Although cast member Dr. Jackie was portrayed as a very successful African American doctor, she was also portrayed as a diva. Other women on the show have stated that they were intimidated by her success. Dr. Jackie is married to her husband and is a two-time breast cancer survivor. She has a positive attitude and is dedicated to her career, but also is portrayed as a family woman. Exercise and healthy eating are habits Dr. Jackie swears by. Dr. Jackie sends the message that she is deeply saddened when women of color get out of line in public and African American women need to mature. She is also known for speaking to some of the cast members on the side to resolve the conflicts that take place on the show. She and Dr. Simone are the least negatively portrayed characters on the show. Dr. Jackie seems to be portrayed as a modern mammy, as she is strong and caring and a mother to her stepdaughter and a mother figure to the entire cast.

Dr. Simone is also a family woman, she is married to her husband, and they raise their two sons. Again, although she is a very successful doctor who is dedicated to her career, she is portrayed as the “party” doctor always asking where the Vodka is. During an episode where a fight breaks out at a ball gown event Dr. Simone said, “Two bitches fighting in ball gowns. Two grown women, two educated women, doctors wives are fighting.” Dr. Simone is portrayed as an authoritative parent, but ensures her children do well in school. She has a balanced portrayal, but the rest of the wives aren’t portrayed so well. Dr. Simone is portrayed as a Sapphire for her strong personality and matriarch status.

Quad Webb is another cast member who is married to Dr. Gregory Lunceford. She is known as the “Black Barbie,” in her circle and is the life of the party. She is the outspoken and fierce fashionista, she and her husband have been portrayed as having a troubled relationship, she’s been arrested, and is always instigating arguments especially with fellow cast member Mariah. She’s portrayed as an unfit mother when she speaks about children, stating if she had children they would bring drama and she’s not interested in reproducing any time soon. Quad is best matched with the Sapphire stereotype. Quad is best friends with fellow cast mate Mariah who is the “Queen B” of the bunch.

Mariah Huq is portrayed as a sophisticated working mother married to Dr. Aydin Huq. Mariah is a successful entrepreneur and CEO, but is consistently portrayed as an instigator and fashionista. If any trouble stirs up on the show Mariah is usually involved, she was involved in a physical fight with fellow cast member Toya. Mariah is shown gossiping about other cast members, other members have called her ghetto, and Mariah stated she should have “killed Toya by drowning her ass in the pool.” Mariah is another member that relates to the Sapphire stereotype, as well as the modern angry black woman.

Toya Bush-Harris is another doctor’s wife who married Dr. Eugene Harris. She has two boys she raises with her husband, she helps her husbands business, and publishes children’s books. Despite all the positive actions Toya accomplishes on a daily basis, on the show she has been portrayed as a fighter and a gossiper. Toya is the member that got into a physical altercation with Mariah Huq at a ball gown event. The fact that Toya came from the hood of Detroit is always made a point on the show reminding viewers that she came from a bad neighborhood to a better community. She is family oriented but is also shown as an unstable black woman when she is around other women on the show. Toya relates with the Sapphire stereotype as well. Toya is also friends with the last cast member on the show Kari.

Kari Wells is a model married to Dr. Duncan Wells. The couple raises two children and they are both very successful. Kari is the CFO of her husband’s practice and supports charitable organizations. Kari is portrayed as an elegant British woman who is only friends with these women because their husbands work together. She consistently condescends the other women on the show for their behavior and physical appearance. During an episode where she is planning a ball gown for she and Mariah’s husbands, she states that she hopes Mariah helps and Quad behaves. Kari accuses Quad of being crazy, at one point in the show Kari wants a restraining order against Mariah, she criticizes Quad’s hairline, and truly believes Mariah has a personality disorder. Kari is portrayed as a high maintenance well behaved woman with malicious intentions around the African American women.