Stereotyping in the Media
Stereotyping (v): is the popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. These are standardized and simplified conceptions of groups based on some prior assumptions. The most common use of stereotypes seen in the media and advertising are of women, men, select sexual orientations and race. These large social groups tend to be condensed into a few generalized traits instead of showing diversity of individuals within the group.
Stereotypes are made every day in almost every society. We develop stereotypes when we are unable or unwilling to obtain all the information we would need to make fair judgments about people or situations. By stereotyping, we assume that a person or group has certain characteristics. Quite often, we develop these ideas about people who are members of groups with which we have not had firsthand contact. Stereotyping usually leads to unfair results, such as discrimination, racial profiling, and unnecessary violence, all behaviors which need to be stopped.
Stereotyping exists in other places than the media, but by continuing to allow such generalizations to be shown on commercial television and in advertising the public sees racism, sexism and homophobia as normal and not something that needs to be changed or challenged.
* Our mission is to make citizens aware of the stereotyping that is happening in advertising and commercial television, and to question their effect on how we think and feel about certain people, races, sexes, ect. Our website was created to push forth with media reform through education and raising awareness, so that we can protect ourselves from media stereotypes and the consequences they bring.
Stereotypes are made every day in almost every society. We develop stereotypes when we are unable or unwilling to obtain all the information we would need to make fair judgments about people or situations. By stereotyping, we assume that a person or group has certain characteristics. Quite often, we develop these ideas about people who are members of groups with which we have not had firsthand contact. Stereotyping usually leads to unfair results, such as discrimination, racial profiling, and unnecessary violence, all behaviors which need to be stopped.
Stereotyping exists in other places than the media, but by continuing to allow such generalizations to be shown on commercial television and in advertising the public sees racism, sexism and homophobia as normal and not something that needs to be changed or challenged.
* Our mission is to make citizens aware of the stereotyping that is happening in advertising and commercial television, and to question their effect on how we think and feel about certain people, races, sexes, ect. Our website was created to push forth with media reform through education and raising awareness, so that we can protect ourselves from media stereotypes and the consequences they bring.