Media Portrayal of Media Portrayal of MinoritiesMinorities

The good, the bad and the The good, the bad and the funny.funny.

History of Minorities in the History of Minorities in the MediaMedia

• Hollywood’s unofficial casting policy limited Hollywood’s unofficial casting policy limited actors of color to character roles based on actors of color to character roles based on ethnic stereotypes.ethnic stereotypes.

• EX: World War II movies depiction of American soldiersEX: World War II movies depiction of American soldiers– They would try to create a “diverse” team of soldiers that They would try to create a “diverse” team of soldiers that

would end up as ethnic stereotypes themselves.would end up as ethnic stereotypes themselves.– Began with Jewish American, Irish American, Italian Began with Jewish American, Irish American, Italian

America, and European American with a Southern or rural America, and European American with a Southern or rural accent.accent.

– Recent films include Latino & African American in spite of Recent films include Latino & African American in spite of the fact that historically American military units in World the fact that historically American military units in World War II were racially segregated.War II were racially segregated.

– This phenomenon dates back to Shakespeare’s This phenomenon dates back to Shakespeare’s Henry Henry VV, which included a Scottish, Irish, and Welsh , which included a Scottish, Irish, and Welsh Captain.Captain.

Accepted Portrayals of Minorities Accepted Portrayals of Minorities in the Mediain the Media

Breakfast At Tiffany’s

Mr. Yunioshi

Last of The Mohicans

Desperate Housewives

John the gardener

Desperate Housewives

The Applewhites

The Good…The Good…

Star Trek– 1966

•First show to have on onscreen interratial kiss (1968)

•First show to have an African American female in a non-stereotypical role in television.

•At the time there was still racial segregation, but since the show was set in the 23rd century Gene Roddenberry envisioned a multi-racial mixed gender crew based on his assumption that there would be no more racial prejudice or sexism.

Stereotypical Minority Characters Stereotypical Minority Characters in TVin TV

• Bonanza– Bonanza– Hop SingHop Sing• ShogunShogun– Mariko & Fujiko– Mariko & Fujiko• Muppets– The Swedish ChefMuppets– The Swedish Chef• Sanford & Son–Sanford & Son– Fred Sanford & “Aunt” Esther Anderson Fred Sanford & “Aunt” Esther Anderson• The Jeffersons– The Jeffersons– Florence Florence

• ““The Simpsons”– ApuThe Simpsons”– Apu• Mind of MenciaMind of Mencia• Chappelle ShowChappelle Show• Blue Collar ComedyBlue Collar Comedy• South ParkSouth Park

Past & Current shows and the accepted Past & Current shows and the accepted stereotypes portrayed: stereotypes portrayed:

Society & StereotypesSociety & Stereotypes

• Many advertisers and companies rely on Many advertisers and companies rely on stereotypes that reinforce white Americans ideas stereotypes that reinforce white Americans ideas about minorities, like:about minorities, like:– Chiquita BananaChiquita Banana– Aunt JemimaAunt Jemima– Quaker Oats guyQuaker Oats guy

• Many automobiles take on Native American names:Many automobiles take on Native American names:– Pontiac, Dakota, NavajoPontiac, Dakota, Navajo

• Sports teams promote themselves with names like:Sports teams promote themselves with names like:– Kansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs– Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins– Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves– Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians

Stereotypes: Good, Bad or Stereotypes: Good, Bad or Funny?Funny?

• In the U.S., there are several states where the majority are In the U.S., there are several states where the majority are the minorities.the minorities.

• ““We must prepare all children to live and work We must prepare all children to live and work harmoniously and productively alongside others who harmoniously and productively alongside others who represent various and many racial and cultural groups, represent various and many racial and cultural groups, backgrounds and abilities in our society.”backgrounds and abilities in our society.”

• ““Prejudice is learned through living in and observing a Prejudice is learned through living in and observing a society where prejudices exist.”society where prejudices exist.”

• ““All children notice differences. This is developmentally All children notice differences. This is developmentally appropriate and, by itself, not a problem; but when appropriate and, by itself, not a problem; but when negative values are attached to those differences, negative values are attached to those differences, problems occur.” problems occur.”

• As adults we can critically think about the information we As adults we can critically think about the information we receive and make our own decisions on what’s acceptable receive and make our own decisions on what’s acceptable and unacceptable, with varying perceptions.and unacceptable, with varying perceptions.

• Since children don’t have that ability we are only Since children don’t have that ability we are only embedding inaccurate portrayals of minorities into their embedding inaccurate portrayals of minorities into their minds as truths through the media.minds as truths through the media.

(Anti-Defamation (Anti-Defamation League)League)

Cartoons & Unacceptable Stereotypes

Parental SuggestionsParental Suggestions

• Accept your children as unique and specialAccept your children as unique and special• Help your children become sensitive to other Help your children become sensitive to other

people’s feelingspeople’s feelings• Make sure your children understand that Make sure your children understand that

prejudice and discrimination are unacceptableprejudice and discrimination are unacceptable• Teach your children respect and an appreciation Teach your children respect and an appreciation

for differences by providing opportunities for for differences by providing opportunities for interacting with people of diverse groupsinteracting with people of diverse groups

• Help children recognize instances of stereotyping, Help children recognize instances of stereotyping, prejudice and discriminationprejudice and discrimination

• Encourage your children to create positive Encourage your children to create positive changechange

• Take appropriate action against prejudice and Take appropriate action against prejudice and discriminationdiscrimination

The The BigBig Question Question

•Should there be Should there be change?change?

Thank YouThank You

• http://http://youtube.com/watch?vyoutube.com/watch?v==KIZSDDDFqLEKIZSDDDFqLE

Women’s WeightWomen’s Weight

www.about-face.orgwww.nolose.orgwww.naafa.org

Media and ReligionMedia and Religion

How media portrays religionsHow media portrays religions

Key Findings Key Findings

• Religion is widely used as a criterion Religion is widely used as a criterion of identityof identity

• Coverage of the religious lives of Coverage of the religious lives of minorities is disproportionately lowminorities is disproportionately low

• Religion Stories most frequently Religion Stories most frequently describe religion in political and legal describe religion in political and legal termsterms

Media, Religions, & Media, Religions, & MinoritiesMinorities

1970s1970s 1980s1980s 1990s1990s

Role of Role of WomenWomen

127127 4343 4747

Role of Role of MinoritiesMinorities

103103 4747 5858

Religion & IdentityReligion & Identity

• 3 general categories of religion 3 general categories of religion identity markersidentity markers

• Those that add important information Those that add important information to the articlesto the articles

• Superfluous identity markersSuperfluous identity markers

• Negative stereotype identityNegative stereotype identity

Negative stereotype identity Negative stereotype identity markermarker

The obvious and the not-so-The obvious and the not-so-obvious stereotypes & obvious stereotypes &

themesthemes

Coverage of Islam and Coverage of Islam and MuslimsMuslims

America’s religious America’s religious breakdownbreakdownChristiansChristians 46%46%

Roman CatholicRoman Catholic 28%28%

JewishJewish 2%2%

IslamIslam 1%1%

Other/no affiliationOther/no affiliation 22%22%

Islam’s Coverage=Bad Islam’s Coverage=Bad DeedsDeeds

• Coverage of Islam is preponderantly Coverage of Islam is preponderantly negative & associated with negative & associated with criminality or violencecriminality or violence

• Militaristic terms to describe Islam Militaristic terms to describe Islam and Muslimand Muslim

Separation of Church & Separation of Church & State?State?

Very unlikely…Very unlikely…

Religion stories in news Religion stories in news media most frequently media most frequently

describe religion in political & describe religion in political & legal termslegal terms

Some StatisticsSome Statistics

• Nearly half of stories about religion Nearly half of stories about religion included references to political, legal, included references to political, legal, & criminal activities& criminal activities

• 20% treated religion exclusively as 20% treated religion exclusively as political or legal matterpolitical or legal matter

• 10% treated religion exclusively in 10% treated religion exclusively in terms of beliefs & valuesterms of beliefs & values

Final Clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEJogiFgsKs

Media & Disabilities – The Media & Disabilities – The VillainsVillains

Portrayal of Mercy KillingsPortrayal of Mercy Killings

The Sweet & InnocentThe Sweet & Innocent

Jerry’s KidsJerry’s Kids

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LGB Stereotypes in FilmLGB Stereotypes in Film

LGB FilmsLGB Films

Media & Transgender Media & Transgender