4) Age, Social Class, Ethinicity, Gender, Sexuality And Disability Flashcards
Age- youths
1) Youths
- there are 2 broad dimensions the young are portrayed
- media industry is aimed at socially constructing youth in terms of lifestyle and identity
- magazines are especially produced for the youth
- radio stations try to shape their musical tastes
- however they are portrayed as a social problem- a folk devil part of a moral panic- drug taking
- WAYNE- found that in 286 news items only consisted of 1% of youths opinions- this shows a one dimensional picture
Age- The Elderly
- Newman says that the elderly occupy high status roles in TV and films
- news programmes work on the assumption that old grey hair and lines on their face can impact news
- some have argued why they are paired with an attractive young women- old women are being exiled to the radio
THE INVISIBLE ELDERLY
- elderly are underrepresented
- in 2000 21% of the populations was aged 65+ yet only 7% of representations on TV was there age group
- in popular magazines for women it consisted of only 9% focusing on the elderly
STEREOTYPES
1) Grumpy- spend their time waxing lyrical about the past- complaining about the modern world
2) Mentally challenged- forgetful- decline in mental functions
3) Infantile- dependent on younger members of the family
4) As a Burden- economic burden on society- pensions and healthcare
5) As enjoying a second childhood
- impact of the elderly in modern society is not appreciated by the media
- the advertising of youth and beauty implies that the elderly should be avoided at all costs
Age- Children
1) as victims of horrendous crime- McCann
- white children who are victims get more media attention
- African children are represented as emancipated and dying
2) As Cute- baby products
3) As little devils- found in drama and comedy’s
4) As brilliant- as heroes saving adult lives- pride of Britain
5) As brave little angels- suffering from long term disease
6) As accessories- Beckham’s
7) As modern- know so much for their age
HEINTZ-KNOWLES
- he found children are often motivated by peer relationships, sports and romance and least often by community- rarely shown as coping with societal issues
- TV dramas now are showing situations from a child’s point of view rather than adults
- the media encourage children to have an appetite for games
- Pester power- kids now mini pulsate their parents to spend
Social Class- representations of the monarchy
- Nairn argues the monarchy has converted the mass to its cause so it is rare to see any criticisms
- after the world war they became the royal family of which casted with national values
- media representations of the queen are also aimed at reinforcing a sense of national identity- portrayed as symbol of the nation
Social Class- representations of the upper class and wealth
- the UK mass media hardly represents the upper class in a critical light, nor do they often draw any serious attention to inequalities in wealth
- Reiner and Young- media present the UK as a meritocratic society
- wealth is more important than ability when opening up options
- celebs are over rewarded for talents
- ordinary people struggle to get by in jobs
- media concentrate on celebrating the celebrity culture
- the media over focus on luxury cars and costly holidays when it only the wealthy who can afford it
Social Class- representations of the middle class
- middle class are overrepresented on TV apart from soaps and dramas where middle class are prominent
- daily mail, telegraph and magazines are aimed at them
Social Class- representations of the working class
- there are very few films and TV shows that focus on the everyday lives of the working class
- working class mean are more likely to be portrayed as flawed individuals
- when the media concentrate on the working class they label them as a problem- drug addicts and criminals
- often portrayed in moral panics
Social Class- representations of poverty and the underclass
- it is often the case that the poor are portrayed in a statistical rather than a human manner- numbers of unemployed for example
Ethnic Minorities- representations
1) AS CRIMINALS
- they are portrayed as being part of organised gangs- push drugs and violence
- a black person is involved in criminality, sport and entertainment
- anything that lies outside of them are not in the interest of the media
- black youth is used
- they are newsworthy as they almost constitute bad news
-HALL- a moral panic was created around black mugging- the info produced was based on that from the police
- he argues this served an ideological purpose of turning white working class against black working class
MORAL PANICS AND RAP
- 50 cent- game bulletproof- promoted drugs and killing
1) A form of cultural identity-rap articulates experience
2) Ambivalent effects- a symbol of blackness
3) Negative role models- guns and gangs has big impact
4) Role of education- media not just to blame
2) AS A THREAT
- moral panics arise through immigrants and asylum seekers- UK vulnerable to mass illegal immigration
- new languages seen as a flood
- fear was created among the general population
- Islam and Muslims are threatening to western values
- Islamphobia
3) AS UNIMPORTANT
- black victims are not as important as white victims
- the murder to Stephen Lawrence by white racists gained high profile media coverage by on TV and the press
4) AS DEPENDANT
- problems in developing countries are the result of stupidity, laziness, corruption and unstable political regimes- those countries come to the west for help time and time again
- without comic relief they wouldn’t be able to survive
CONCLUSION
- media pros from ethnic minorities have responded to inequalities by creating media institutions and agencies that target the interest of ethnic minorities
- they now control newspapers and radio stations
Gender- Representations Of Femininity
LIMITED ROLES
- Tunstal argues the presentation of women is biased as it emphasises their domestic roles- they are depicted as busy housewives
- well over half of British adults go out and get paid
SYMBOLIC ANNIHILATION
- this term is used to describe the way in which women’s achievements are often not reported by media- there achievements are less important than looks
- women across the world are rarely seen as newsworthy compared to men
- women coverage in sport is low- different language is used by commentators towards them
- women invisible in the media- even children’s TV is male dominated
A CULT OF FEMININITY
- magazines are aimed around this theme which involves excellence coming through caring for others, marriage and family- new magazines focus on looking good for him
THE SEXUAL OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN
- images of women by the media promote the beauty ideal through which they transmit the idea that women should treat their bodies like a project needing constant improvement
SLIMINESS= HAPPINESS
- magazines concentrate heavy on this
- almost 70% is on beauty
- it creates anxieties among young women with regard to body image
- slimness= success, health and popularity
- they create a potential for eating disorders
1) by making women concerned about weight
2) by running features criticising being overweight
3) encouraging dieting and cosmetic surgery
DO THE MODERN MEDIA EMPOWER WOMEN
- more positive role models are emerging
- there’s been a change in fundamental attitudes
- coronation street and Eastenders promote independent and assertive female characters
POSITIVE ROLE MODELS
- their aspirations have dramatically changed with education and career replacing marriage and family as priorities
Connel- masculinity and femininity
- argues gender identities are influenced and constructed through secondary socialisation by the media and as a result are now hegemonic or culturally dominant
Gender- representations of masculinity
- Tunstall says media rarely focus on men’s domestic roles or claim that fathers lack contact of contact with children- men are also treated as sex objects as they conform to a feminine definition of an ideal male physical form
THE MASCULINE MYTH
- variety of media especially films and comp games portray masculinity is based on strength and aggression, competition and violence and their becomes a natural goal to achieve a Hollywood action hero is often like this
MENS AND MAGAZINES
1) The New Man- the masculine experience- rather than interests and hobbies- men emotionally vulnerable- new type of masculinity
2) The Metrosexual Male- responding to the growing economic independence and assertness of women- magazines portray that masculinity should be practiced and perfected- caring, generous
3) Retributive Masculinity- magazines still contribute to define success in terms of work, salary and materialisation
- birds, booze and football
