“Orange is the New Black,” has had a great deal of success in its five-season run. The show is a blend of elements from a typical TV drama and the rarely explored dynamics incarcerated woman, with the goal of connecting viewers with an often overlooked portion of society.
Angela Davis observes that prison is an American media feature. It can be evoked to express a range of themes including justice, freedom, redemption and vengeance. The use of the prison archetype, which is a popular one, helped to ensure its success.
OITNB has become a household word because of its success on the commercial front, but it is also interesting in a critical sense due to how it portrays women’s experiences behind bars. OITNB’s popularity has a significant impact on society’s perception of women and prisoners. The show has had a positive impact in some areas, but has also had a negative effect in others.
Sophia is played by Laverne, who portrays a transgender transwoman. In “Reel Injun,” we discussed how to ensure that minorities are fairly represented by giving them control over their portrayals. Transgender character actors and actresses rarely portray transgender characters. Sophia is an example of this rare occurrence.
The show is also adamant about the many flaws with the American prison system. This includes the mandatory sentence minimums which led Piper and her lawyer to agree to a deal. The show “13th” discusses this issue extensively, noting that minimum sentencing requirements prevent judges exercising their discretion. These minimums, combined with the harsh penalties that are often handed out to criminals who reject plea bargains, serve to deny many, including drug offenders, the constitutional right to be tried. Piper’s actions were not punished by the show, as she had been rehabilitated. She was living a normal, happy life. Many Americans believe that her punishment was more like bloodlust than justice.
The show is not as accurate in its portrayal of women behind bars. Piper’s white, middle-class protagonist is the source of one of its biggest problems. In Zerlina’s ZerlinaMaxwell article, the creator of this show states that Piper serves as a bridge between the average TV viewer and prison inmates. Piper is said to be used to perpetuate stereotypes, allowing white people to profit from the experiences and lives of people of colour. The subtle racism in the storyline of the show reinforces this, giving the impression of a “damsel” in distress who is scared to be around people of color. Even though it’s reasonable for a woman in Piper’s position to feel like this when she arrives at prison, characters’ actions seem to reinforce the stereotype.
It also does not seem to “humanize” the prisoners as claimed. Keri Blakinger said that she formed friendships with a number of women who were in prison, even though they made mistakes. OITNB’s inmates aren’t very likeable. Piper cheats and Sophia selfishly ignores what her wife has sacrificed. Red, among others, attacks Sophia’s gender identity. These characters are akin to the “fallen women” archetype that was discussed in the article “Are Prisons Obsolete?”. That is, they’re evil at their core and have no chance of redemption.
The portrayal of female prisoners in “Orange is the New Black”, while a step forward, is still insufficient. The show gives viewers a realistic look at prison life, but it reinforces stereotypes, particularly about women of color. OITNB may be a positive step, but it still has a long way to go.
