media representation

in my earlier posts, I discussed media ethics and the use of dark media. in that post I briefly spoke about how media producers can influence you to buy something or even follow a certain ideology. Media producers, also known as content creators, create a product, being the media, in order to sell/ enforce their beliefs/preferred opinions. I have also previously spoke about how media in used as a form of education and research. But who are these mainstream creators? Our Mainstream Educators? In all of my post, thus far, all if not most, were men. Wealthy, White, Straight Men. the most privileged group in society, have been the most predominate group in the 'Creator' field.

creating ideas

Why does this matter?

if the media is both a stage and source of knowledge/ education and we are only hearing from 1 particular group and being ‘educated’ by them, we don’t get a variety of opinions and views, which can seem like ‘our only hope’’ or ‘the only way’. This can be very damaging especially when our ‘teachers’ have a bias in relation to what we should believe.

In the earlier ages of the media we can observe the way women are portrayed. Only being showed in cleaning commercials. in the examples of our "dream lives", we are told to, Stay at home. Take care of your husband. Take care of your Kids. Take care of the house. Look Pretty. Be Appealing. Appeal to Men. These are the only things the media were suggesting women worry about. No sense of power, no sense of strength. Weak and inferior to our male counterparts. Women were being taught to serve. While men were taught to have fun. Be whatever you want to be. Don't be defined. Be free.

gender symbols on a scale

 As a Female, This is quite horrifying to me, but this is what was ‘supposed’ to happen right? Our Husband make the money while we take care of their every need, Right? Wrong. That’s just what these creators want us to think. They force their preferred narrative in order for them to benefit and ‘keep people in their place’. We see the effects of this narrative even in todays version of the media. The ‘Miss Representation Female Leadership" video by the SB Ikastgym YouTube channel discus the role of this false narrative in relation to Females in Leadership roles. The video walks us through some of the experiences women went through while running for a position in power. These women, putting their all into a campaign just to be sexualised, harassed, and humiliated, is very sad and would be quite unmotivating to young girls growing up. ‘What you see inspires your idea of what’s possible for you in the world’ a direct quote from the video. Why was the media trying to limit the possibilities in the world for females? Because it benefits the creators, they don’t want competition.

Another harmful opinion enforced by the media is , the portrayal of different ethnic minorities and a prejudice idea of their character. Black Women are Angry and Sassy. Black Men are Dangerous and Thuggish. In cartoons and many reality tv shows, we have seen ethnic minorities portrayed as annoying, loud and lesser than. This not only detrimental to the mental health of the communities involved but also takes a toll on the employability rate, workplace prejudice and overall treatment of the ethnic minorities in their living communities.

different people

In the ‘ Why Representation Matters’ video by the Storyblocks YouTube channel, we are taught media representation is important to validate our feelings, experiences what we look like and our cultures We cannot achieve this without variation in creators and views. A future without representation causes damage to viewers that internalise what they see.

How can we do better?

We Hire a more diverse team of creators, from different ethnic and class backgrounds. To produce fresh and meaningful ideas, that can be related to by a wide range of people. This would also to teach new generations anything is possible whether you can see it or not. Be a fresh start.

  

Check out my sources here:

https://dayoidmblog.blogspot.com/2021/10/media-ethics-use-of-dark-media.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJr0gO_-w_Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILmrpdxWgaU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcxeQFuUqJM