Today, media shows us how diverse our world is. It includes film, TV, and online content. Media is very important because it shapes our view of the world. But, a study found that not all Canadians see themselves in the media. This shows there’s a big lack of different stories in media.1
Media used to be a “mirror” for some and a “window” for others. For example, Sesame Street helped children see themselves and learn about different people. Yet, there are still problems like not enough diversity and stereotyping in media. These issues can hurt how people see themselves and others, and even affect their success.1
It’s important for media to be more diverse to become inclusive. By telling various stories, it fights stereotypes and helps us understand each other better. Diverse media can give everyone a chance to see themselves in a positive way.
Key Takeaways
- Media representation shapes our view of the world.
- Often, it has not shown how diverse our societies really are.
- Problems like lack of diversity and stereotypes still exist in media.
- It’s vital for media to tell diverse stories and empower underrepresented groups.
- Showing different stories can fight stereotypes and encourage understanding.
The Impact of Media Representation
Media showing stories and cultures can change our views or let us learn new things.2 But, many groups haven’t had a voice in media. This leads to misrepresentations, stereotypes, and lack of diversity shown.2
Mirroring and Window Experiences
When media lacks diverse voices, it’s hard for some to find themselves in what they watch.3 This affects how people feel about themselves, how they form their identity, and sometimes how well they do in school.2 On the flip side, seeing stories that feel real and relatable can make people feel strong and proud.3
Under-representation, Stereotyping, and Whitewashing
Not showing enough diverse faces and stories in media blocks chances for us all to see different realities.2 It also can make false ideas stick around, like people being ‘other’ or ‘exotic’.2 Picking white actors for non-white roles only makes things worse, deleting chances for real representation.2
Effects on Self-Perception and Attitudes
These problems shown in media can make us feel bad about ourselves and can lead to wrong judgments about others.2 But, if we see more stories that look like the real world, it can boost how we see ourselves and others.2
The Importance of Authentic Portrayals
Factual data shows how important real media depictions are. Even “positive stereotypes” can harm by limiting views.1 True-to-life portrayals are key to boosting minorities’ confidence and fighting biases. “Art changes hearts more than politics, slowly,” says the data.1 Media that shows true, deep views of various groups helps reduce prejudice and grow understanding and empathy.
Real portrayals, not just stereotypes, are crucial to help marginalized people and break down biases.1 It’s vital to include varied, complex layers of life experiences to show real diversity.1 In the end, media needs to reflect everyone to welcome all, show the beauty of differences, and elevate often missed voices and stories.
Intersectionality in Media Representation
The idea of intersectionality, by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, explores how different aspects of our identity overlap1. It shows that when media only focuses on one part of someone’s identity, it can create issues. This is important to remember when we’re looking at or making media. The images we see can mix and change stereotypes in complex ways.
Conflicting Stereotypes and Identities
In media, East Asian women might be overly shown as sexual, while men from the same background face opposite stereotypes. People may only view one layer of a person’s identity. This can confuse or lead to unfair treatment of individuals with mixed stereotypes1. Not understanding the full picture of people’s diverse experiences can lead to harmful content. It can end up supporting prejudices and keeping certain groups down1.
Consideration in Media Creation and Critique
Research shows that it’s crucial for creators to think about intersectionality right at the start, not as an extra4. Some TV shows and movies have done well in showcasing diverse stories and characters. They’ve been praised for doing a great job with various representation4. Yet, it’s not just about the faces on the screen. It’s also about including a wide range of experts behind the scenes. For instance, hiring Black hairstylists can make a difference4.
To truly show people as they are, we need to grasp the full complexity of their identities. This helps avoid surface-level portrayals and stereotypes.
Structural, Content, and Exposure Diversity
Media diversity comes in three key types: structural diversity, content diversity, and exposure diversity.5 Structural diversity focuses on having many kinds of sources or content creators. It’s about who owns the media, how many media outlets there are, and their policies.5
Content diversity is the variety of ideas, views, and content available. This can mean differences between various media outlets (like external diversity) or within just one outlet (called internal diversity).5 Exposure diversity aims to give people choices and encourages discussions between different views.5 But, having many options might lead to ‘filter bubbles’. These bubbles can limit the variety of sources people see, making their views more one-sided.5 It’s important to look at and improve these three kinds of diversity to show society’s true mix in media.
Principles of Truth, Independence, and Humanity
Journalists should stick to the rules of telling the truth, being independent and fair, and showing humanity and solidarity.6 Telling the truth means always checking the facts and fixing errors fast.7 Being independent and fair is about telling stories without any bias. It’s also about giving room for different opinions and not letting money or politics control the news.6 Humanity and solidarity ask journalists to do their work without causing harm. They should be open-minded, think carefully, and consider everyone’s rights and the moral side of their job.
It’s key to follow these principles when talking about the mix of languages, faiths, cultures, and histories in today’s world.6 By following the lines of truth, independence, and humanity, media pros keep intolerance from spreading. Instead, they share the true and fair stories of our diverse world.
| Journalism Principle | Key Elements |
|---|---|
| Truth-Telling | Factual accuracy, checking sources, acknowledging errors, correcting mistakes |
| Independence and Fairness | Unbiased storytelling, allowing for valid disagreement, resisting external influence |
| Humanity and Solidarity | Minimizing harm, being open-minded and thoughtful, respecting public rights and journalism ethics |
Following these journalism principles helps media experts handle the industry’s lack of diversity. It also assists them in sharing the beauty and complexity of our society with honesty, care, and a dedication to the truth.7
Reflecting Society’s Diversity
Factual data shows that media often misses the mark on showing society’s true mix. For instance, 91% of those in charge of Hollywood’s shows are white. And 86.3% of its writers are also white. This common “default whiteness” makes it hard to see real diversity in film and TV scenes, like those set in a varied place such as New York City.1 It’s a problem because it gives the wrong idea about American history and culture. It doesn’t show how rich and varied it truly is.
Lack of Diversity and Ignorance
The under-representation of different groups in movies and TV is a big issue.1 Even behind the scenes, non-white voices are often not heard. This whitewashing harms representation, not letting diverse groups tell their own stories.1 It can lead to ignorance by not showing the true mix of people in the world. Audiences miss out on the chance to see how diverse and rich society really is.
Role Models and Possibilities
But, diverse media can change things for the better. It shows young people from all walks of life that they can be heroes too.1 It can make big dreams feel close by. By sharing stories from all cultures, it makes us all understand and care about each other more. This is the real power of diverse media.
Representation of Diversity in Media: Why It Matters
The importance of diverse media is clear. It fights stereotypes, bigotry, and ignorance1. By showing the world as it is, young people from all kinds of backgrounds see new paths open. We all learn to accept each other better this way.
By telling stories without stereotypes, we give power to those often left out8. It’s key to look at diverse experiences in a detailed, real way. This helps us all feel included and appreciated, showing the beauty in our differences.
Normalizing Differences and Shared Experiences
Diverse media can normalize cultural differences while showing our shared humanity. It brings stories from communities we might not know. These tales help break down walls and stereotypes.9
Instead of focusing on what separates us, these stories highlight universal human struggles and experiences. They make us see we’re not so different than people from other backgrounds.2
This leads to more empathy, as we see we share a lot in common. Showing authentic, non-stereotypical pictures of different groups’ lives helps too. It gives everyone a more accurate view of society’s real diversity. This understanding can make us feel like we all belong, fighting against prejudice.9
By highlighting shared human experiences and promoting understanding through diverse media, we can change perceptions. We can learn empathy and celebrate how varied our world is.92
Showing that it’s okay to be different helps those who feel left out. It also shows the next generation a world where everyone fits, no matter their background.2 It brings us all closer as one big community.92
Combating Stereotypes and Bigotry
The Factual data shows that media needs diverse representation to fight stereotypes and bigotry. For instance, reality shows about rich Asians can hide the fact that not all Asians are wealthy.1 This makes people think all Asians are doing well, which isn’t true for everyone.1 But, sharing various stories from different communities can break down these wrong ideas.10 This balanced view also stops some groups from being forgotten or having their stories changed by others.11 Media’s job is to show all kinds of people and their lives accurately. This can make us understand and care about each other more.
Varied Representation and Income Inequality
There’s a big gap in how media talks about different groups, missing real issues like money disparities.1 It’s vital to show these groups in all their variety. This can break stereotypes and help us see everyone’s real life.10 When we see the whole picture, it helps fight hate. It lets us learn about many different kinds of lives, making our society better.11
Building Self-Love and Pride
Certain roles can shape how we see ourselves. For instance, if people like us are rarely shown as heroes, it might make us feel not as good about who we are.12 But, when Black Panther came out, it had a big impact. Black viewers were thrilled to see an African hero in a major film. This made their dreams seem more real.12 Changing who gets to be the star can help everyone believe in themselves more.
Many women and girls think the beauty in media is too perfect, feeling they can never measure up.13 To counter this, Dove made Project #ShowUS. It has over 10,000 photos showing a wider, more real beauty.13 Online, hashtags are used to change the beauty conversation. It includes #BoPo and #BlackGirlMagic.13 By being more real in media, we can make people feel better about themselves.
It’s key to show positive LGBTQ+ role models in media, so LGBTQ+ kids and teens feel OK about who they are.14 Such shows help create a world where everyone can truly be themself.14 Shows like “Heartstopper” and “Schitt’s Creek” are turning points in showing rich, LGBTQ+ stories.14 Showing all kinds of people in a positive light makes everyone feel more accepted and proud of who they are.
Diverse Casting Practices
It’s clear that diverse casting is important for real and accurate stories on screen.15 Sometimes, without realizing, those in charge might not pick actors of color for roles that can be played by anyone.15 But, by looking at all actors, casting can help show that anyone can be the hero or the star.
Challenging Biases and Expectations
Choosing a cast that celebrates everyone’s unique story is the way to go.15 Sadly, not picking actors of color can lead to wrong ideas about our history and life today.15 Choosing wisely stops people from missing in telling their own stories.
Valuing Lived Experiences
Selecting actors who truly understand their roles is more important than you might think.15 This way, the stories get told exactly as they happened or felt.15 By doing this, we make sure everyone’s story gets told as it should.
Preventing Erasure of Marginalized Stories
Diverse casting and representation are very important to stop marginal stories from being forgotten. Even in movies about lesser-known groups, there’s often a risk of not representing them accurately.16 A good example is the movie Argo. It had Ben Affleck, a white actor, play a main character that was Iranian. This choice can make viewers misunderstand how diverse society truly is and the impact of historical figures.17
It is crucial to show real stories of people from different groups.17 By letting diverse voices tell their stories, we see a broader view of human experiences. This helps prevent those stories from being forgotten or twisted in mainstream media.16 This is extra important knowing that in 2019, few books for kids and teens showed diverse lives.16
Not letting marginalized stories disappear is key. It helps in challenging the stories that often favor the rich or powerful.17 By listening to the marginalized, we fight against unfair biases. This leads to a society that understands and values everyone.17
Source Links
- https://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/media-issues/diversity-media/representation-diversity-media-overview
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychology-the-people/202112/why-representation-matters-and-why-it-s-still-not-enough
- https://thedailytexan.com/2023/01/26/why-representation-in-media-matters/
- https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/blog/diversity-in-hollywood-the-importance-of-representing-intersectional-identities
- https://ideasforeurope.eu/news/diversity-and-media/
- http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news-powerful-and-privileged-how-misrepresentation-and-underrepresentation-disadvantaged
- https://comminfo.rutgers.edu/news/mission-journalism-pursuit-truth
- https://www.diggitmagazine.com/papers/diversity-and-representation-tv-and-movies-and-why-it-matters
- https://www.unicef.org/media/108811/file/UNICEF-PLAYBOOK-Promoting-diversity-and-inclusion-in-advertising.pdf
- https://nexus.jefferson.edu/science-and-technology/how-can-the-media-improve-representations-of-diverse-identities/
- https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/blog/race-and-ethnicity-representation-in-the-media/
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/why-on-screen-representation-matters-according-to-these-teens
- https://www.bestofthislife.com/why-beauty-diversity-in-the-media-matters/
- https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/blog/representation-matters-are-lgbtq-young-people-seeing-themselves-represented-in-the-media/
- https://medium.com/fourwind-films/top-9-reasons-diversity-in-media-matters-d55c3eb8320
- https://theorangechair.com/blogs/blog/why-representation-really-matters-diversity-in-childrens-books
- https://www.verywellmind.com/the-importance-of-representation-5076060
