Question

Select three television shows or two movies depicting gender, race and class. Write a study on the media’s impact of how race, class and gender are viewed in American society. Analyze the tv shows/movies based on gender, race and class. What family dynamic exists? How do the tv shows influence women? (self esteem, self image) Take notes while you are watching television shows and note your observations. How might these tv shows/movies impact the viewers/audience? How do these tv shows/films impact you as an individual? How do these tv shows/movies influence society?

Answer 1

• Beauty and the beast depicts gender discrimination.Peter Pan is often cited for its racial stereotypes, this Disney classic has many of its female characters (particularly Tinker Bell) caught up in jealous rivalries over Peter's affections.
• African Americans are the most stereotyped people in the modern and historical United States. They are portrayed as lazy, unintelligent, loud, immoral, destructive, and obnoxious as well as being portrayed as criminals or thugs in the media.
• The Magical Negro is one of the most racist stereotypes in any type of film or television. It is a role that, quite literally, gives an African American special powers, making them seem like a mystifying creature to the audience who must help the white protagonist achieve their peace/goal.
• In recent media, Italians have been portrayed as mobsters, gangsters, men of power and respect, guidos, guineas, and tough and violent guys. Films such as The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Goodfellas, The Untouchables, and Mean Streets all portray Italians in this type of fashion.
• Nowadays a family model is based rather on a partnership than on patriarchy and women have more rights and possibilities on the labor market. Feminist environment had a significant impact on the change in this situation.
• Nowadays the differences between male and female roles are smaller, however mass media still perpetuates traditional gender stereotypes. Moreover, due to their great influence on people’s attitudes, they can depict certain social groups in negative and unrealistic manner. They can be a very useful tool for those remaining power. By manipulating the message, media can create a certain image of reality, which is consistent with the policy of the dominant group.
• Women are more often presented in commercials, because they are seen as responsible for making everyday purchases. Men generally advertise cars, cigarettes, business products or investments, whereas women are shown rather in the commercials with cosmetics and domestic products. They are also more likely portrayed in the home environment, unlike men, who are shown outdoors.
• For racial/ethnic majority group members (i.e., whites), unfavorable media depictions can mean the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes: this can lead to outcomes ranging from unsympathetic policy positions to active or passive harming behaviors. Negative characterizations prompt shame, anger, and other undesirable emotions and lead to esteem problems.
• By creating advertisements with unrealistic images of beauty, it has resulted in anxiety, low self-esteem, and low self-confidence in many women. Most of these negative emotions stems from unhappiness among body and appearance.