https://doi.org/10.1177/1557085117723705 Feminist Criminology 1–25 © The Author(s) 2017 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1557085117723705 journals.sagepub.com/home/fcx Article Girl Fights and the Online Media Construction of Black Female Violence and Sexuality Brooklynn K. Hitchens 1 Abstract This article uses content analysis to examine the media construction of violence and sexuality among young Black, White, and Latina women who fight on WorldStarHipHop.com. I explore symbolic themes derived from the construction of violence through physical fighting. Findings suggest overrepresentation of depictions of Black women as perpetrators, specifically with weapon use and amount of physical violence shown. Findings also indicate racial differences in displays of nudity. Yet, these racialized images conflict with existing codes of violence in urban Black communities. This article adds new insight into the critical discourse surrounding urban Black women and new media construction of girl violence. Keywords girls, media issues, Black youth, crime and victimization in popular culture, female delinquency, interpersonal violence, fighting Introduction Young people quickly learn that that which scales, that which spreads, tends to be that which is most embarrassing, humiliating, grotesque or sexual. —boyd (2014, p. 117) Fueled by shifting attitudes toward female violence, criminology has shown renewed interest in violent offending and victimization among young, urban Black women. A 1 Rutgers University–New Brunswick, NJ, USA Corresponding Author: Brooklynn K. Hitchens, Department of Sociology, Rutgers University–New Brunswick, 26 Nichol Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08904, USA. Email: bkh40@scarletmail.rutgers.edu 723705FCX XX X 10.1177/1557085117723705Feminist CriminologyHitchens research-article 2017