Media and Stereotypes

Abstract

Mass media have huge reach in society and are a key filter through which people learn about each other, yet countless studies demonstrate that these media continue to reproduce ethnic and racial stereotypes, with often harmful effects. In various mediumsnews, drama, and gamingethnic minority groups are typically marginalized and overlooked. Very often, when they are represented, they are shown only in narrowly stereotyped roles, such as the model Asian migrant or the exotic Latina, or depicted negatively as the problematic "other," disproportionately represented as violent or criminal, and "less than" dominant groups (i.e., less intelligent, less wealthy, less powerful). Ethnic minority mediathat is, media produced by and for ethnic minority groupsgenerally offer more positive representations and a counter narrative to mainstream stereotypes but can also be prone to narrow typecasting and stereotype. The resulting pervasiveness of stereotyped representations across media formats and type is partly the outcome of complex media production processes, norms and values, commercial

Nomen Est Omen Socialis

“…The research methodology rests on the premise that stereotypes are results of sociocultural reality interpretation that takes place within the scope of cognitive models by means of linguistic signs (Bartmiński 2017, Burgers-Beukeboom 2020, Lawton 2016, Ross 2019. Stereotypes are manifested on different levels of the language.…”

We are (not) Different from the Others: Religious Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Slovakia and India

“…It is well known that the mass media can have a huge impact in society and, for many individuals, represents a crucial source of information about people outside their own "social bubble". Different ethnic, racial or cultural minorities represent the most vulnerable groups in terms of misrepresentation in media content, and they are often depicted in highly stereotyped roles (Ross, 2019). The way in which the mass media emphasized the role of religion and ritualistic practices in India during the pandemic (including the promotion of traditional methods of healing) reinforced the Orientalist image of India, as a backward and superstitious country, where "all classes of people resort frequently to magical and religious therapy" (Leslie, 1976, p. 360).…”

Exploring identity and coping among Black viewers of Marvel’s Black Panther.

“…The relationship between media and Black people is complicated because mainstream media are often used as tools by the larger White society to perpetuate racist beliefs of Black inferiority (Adams & Stevenson, 2012;Castañeda, 2018;Fujioka, 2005;Ward, 2004). Due to limited interracial group interactions (Ramasubramanian, 2013), one's exposure to and understanding of various racial groups are often mediated through popular media (Ross, 2019). Most media platforms depict Black people as lazy, unintelligent, dangerous, sexually deviant, or as people whose purpose is solely for White people's entertainment (Adams-Bass et al, 2014;Banjo, 2011;Dukes & Gaither, 2017;Gordon, 2008;Martin, 2008;Tyree, 2011).…”

“…Negative biased media portrayals can pose a threat to Black viewers' racial identity and self-concept (Fujioka, 2005;Ross, 2019;Tukachinsky et al, 2017). In a national study examining the effect of stereotypes on Black identities, Tukachinsky and colleagues (2017) found exposure to negative representations of Black people in mainstream media decreased participants' private racial regard.…”

“…Despite Black Panther's global performance, few studies have investigated the psychological impact of the movie on its Black viewers (Firmansyah & Jones, 2019). According to Ross (2019), research examining Black-oriented media and Black viewer audiences is relatively rare. To understand the relationship between Black Panther and racial identity among Black people, we qualitatively explored two aims: (a) What influence, if any, did Black Panther have on the racial identity of its Black viewers?…”