Crack Mothers in the United States

Crack Mothers in relation to Crime and Race

Crack Mothers is included in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime (1), beginning with: Crack mothers illustrates how the overexposure of a racial or ethnic stereotype can wrongfully influence the treatment of a specific group of people. This section examines the social construction of crack mothers, media portrayals, prenatal effects of cocaine, and legal issues. Crack mothers are pregnant women who use cocaine. The term emerged during the mid-1980s as a part of the War on Drugs crusade launched by President Ronald Reagan. The media was mainly responsible for bringing to light the images of crack mothers as mostly Black and Hispanic, economically underprivileged urban women. Television news teams showed these women smoking crack and openly describing their drug use. This led to the stereotype of crack mothers as poor women of color who were indifferent to the health of their babies. Cocaine became popular in the mid-1980s as a highly addictive stimulant. Cocaine users report feelings of euphoria, high energy, and erratic behavior.

Resources

Notes and References

1. Entry about Crack Mothers in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime

See Also