In a tale as old as time a woman engaged in sex work in order to feed herself and her family, then exits the industry once she has began a relationship with a powerful man ("who rescues her"). This story is the thread that connects Blac Chyna, a real woman from DC, and Nikki Newman, a fictional character on Young and the Restless for over two decades. Nikki Newman, aka Nicole Reed entered the soap opera world in dramatic fashion, as a stripper that Victor Newman eventually falls in love with.
Nicole Reed becomes Nikki Newman soon the veneer of wealth and extravagance engulfs her life. Nikki has two children with Victor and embraces the respect and power that is attached to the Newman name. When it comes to Victor Nikki is rarely allowed to forget where she came from, how she married into the Newman money, and that she can be easily dismissed.
Blac Chyna shares a similar story to Nikki without the benefit of white skin. Blac Chyna met a then prominent rapper, who sought to "save" her. Blac Chyna had already been a name in hip hop because of a couple name checks in hip hop songs. Soon Blac Chyna experienced the same conditional support, Nikki often received from her partner. Blac Chyna is not allowed to forget where she came from, how she received support because of her connection to her more respected male counterpart, and that she could be easily dismissed.
The media recreates narrative about women in sex work. The narrative is usually degrading and dehumanizing. Women are not allowed to seek agency. Women are not allowed to seek security. They are labelled as gold diggers no matter how much energy they dedicate to support their partners' dreams/ careers. The narrative of women can be even more vicious, when that woman comes from a field generally disrespected by mainstream society. Black women no matter how much their male counterpart is respected, rarely get the public amnesia, Nikki was seemingly offered.
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