F06 :: Feminist Film Studies: Home Training

In discussing the representation of Black women in film, specifically in Set It Off, Kimberly Springer focuses on the Sapphire model. She states, "Sapphire is not afraid to be loud and to speak her mind. Her danger lies within her words and only home training constrains her violence....Home training is about being well mannered in public, being a lady, and being middle class or working toward that class status. If one comes from a good home, one knows that tallking back and running one's mouth are verboten activities." Springer goes on to argue that the women in Set it Off embody the Sapphire model, but she does not explore further the link between home life and aggressive tendencies that is so explicitly displayed in this film.
Cleo is the only one of the four women who begins the film as a Sapphire. Cleo is not well mannered in public, a "lady", or middle class or working toward that class status at any point in Set if Off.
Frankie only becomes a Sapphire after her bank is robbed and she loses her job - thus depriving her of any hope of being middle class, and removing the necessity for her to be well mannered in life.
Stony transforms into a Sapphire after her brother is killed, which deprived her of hope of attaining middle class status, as well as the good home life that Springer asserts is essential to keep the Sapphiristic tendencies of Black women in check.
T becomes a Sapphire after her son is taken by the state, which destroyed her home life.
After reading Springer's article, the main message I take from the film Set it Off is this: "Enfranchise Black women, or they will turn into Sapphires and wreak havoc on society." My response to this message is that its good that there is media being created that supports the enfranchisement of Black women, but that any claim that powerless Black women will invariably become Sapphires enforces a stereotype. And we all already know how constructive stereotypes are in society....
so once again, I don't know what to think.