This presentation examines the role of white women in two popular television series that feature narratives of addiction. We conducted a systematic analysis of a narrative television show, Law and Order, and a reality-based show, Intervention, using nine (9) seasons over the same time period (2000-2010). We use this analysis to argue that white women play an important symbolic role in justifying the racist drug war.

1. WHITE WOMEN,
POPULAR CULTURE
& NARRATIVES OF ADDICTION
Jessie Daniels, PhD @JessieNYC
Jules Netherland, PhD @Jnetherland
#cdphelsinki

2. DRUG USE IN U.S. IS
RACIALIZED

4. There are 100,00 total marijuana
smokers in the US and most are
Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and
entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz,
swing, result from usage.This marijuana
causes white women to seek
sexual relations with Negroes,
entertainers and others.
~HarryAnslinger,TestimonytoUSCongress,1937
“ “

5. POP CULTURE SHAPES
DRUG USE NARRATIVES

6. WHITENESS & WHITE WOMEN’S
ROLE in the RACIST DRUG WAR

7. “ “
One of the recurring themes in the history of
colonial repression is the way in which the
threat of real or imagined violence
towards white women became a
symbol of the most dangerous form of
insubordination. In any colony, the degree to
which white women were protected from
the fear of sexual assault was a good
indication of the level of security felt
by the colonial authorities.
~VronWare,BeyondthePale,2015

8. METHODS: CONTENT ANALYSIS
(2000-2010)
INTERVENTION
LAW & ORDER

10. Tragic victims,
lost potential,
hope for redemption

17. CHARACTERS (“ADDICTS”) ON
INTERVENTION BY RACE
(2000-2010)
87%
4% 6% 1% 1% 1%
White AfAm La2na/o
Asian Na2veAm Biracial

18. “ “We have a very long list of different
elements we try to find in a story.
The most important one is, will the
story in some way challenge the
stereotype of what addiction is?
~DanPartland,ExecutiveProducer,Intervention

22. 71%
18%
11% 0%
White Black La2no Asian Na2veAm Biracial
38%
62%
Male Female
DRUG STORYLINES BY GENDER
(2000-2010)
DRUG STORYLINES BY RACE
(2000-2010)

23. THERAPEUTIC & CARCERAL
AGENCY OF WHITE WOMEN

25. Thank you!
Jessie Daniels @JessieNYC
Jules Netherland @JNetherland