Parent–child communication about gender and race through the films Black Panther and Wonder Woman: The roles of parental mediation and media literacy.

Abstract

This research explores parent-child communication about gender and race through popular media. Specifically, this study examined how White and Black parents (N = 185) discussed the critically acclaimed films Black Panther and Wonder Woman with their children (aged 7-12 years). Findings reveal significant relationships between parents' media literacy skills, mediation styles, and parent-child conversations about race and gender through these popular superhero films. Higher levels of media literacy and active mediation style were related to the likelihood that parents had conversations about gender and race with their children when discussing the films. Parental race was predictive only of discussion of Black character roles, and parental gender was not significantly related to parent-child communication about the films. Findings are discussed in terms of how media literacy and mediation styles work together to define the parent-child-media relationship. Public Policy Relevance StatementPopular media may be used as a tool by parents to have conversations with their children about sensitive topics such as racism and sexism. The findings from this research suggest that parents with stronger media literacy and active mediation skills are more likely to have discussions about race and gender with their children after coviewing popular films with diverse representations. Increasing parent access to media literacy resources may be an effective means of fostering parent-children communication about race and gender via shared media experiences.

Being asked to dance: Evidence of racial bias in audience voting behavior on the television show Strictly Come Dancing.

“…The diversity on Strictly Come Dancing is a good thing. Prior research has shown that diversity on popular media can spark much-needed conversations about diversity and bias in real life (Behm-Morawitz et al, 2022). After watching Strictly Come Dancing, Cathy Reay (Reay, 2022) wrote about how enraptured and transfixed her children were to see someone like them (i.e., someone with dwarfism) represented in a positive way on a dancing show.…”

Active Parental Mediation and Adolescent Problematic Internet Use: The Mediating Role of Parent–Child Relationships and Hiding Online Behavior

“…These efforts ultimately contribute to the formation of positive Internet usage habits and the avoidance of problematic online behaviors in adolescents. The ecological techno-subsystem represents a subsystem within the broader ecological system of child development, reflecting the influence of electronic device usage in the family, school, and community on children's development [60].Active mediation style, combined with higher levels of media literacy, was associated with a higher likelihood of parents engaging in conversations with their children [61]. The family functions as a direct microenvironment for adolescent Internet usage, where parental attitudes towards the Internet and mediation towards online behavior directly impact adolescents' Internet adaptation.…”