Misrepresentation in Media

How representation, misrepresentation, and stereotypes are prevalent in today’s Media

Disadvantaged groups in our society are often called “minorities” for one obvious reason - they are groups that are smaller in size than the group recognized as the majority. In this sense, people of color, as well as non-heterosexuals (LGBT+), are numerical minorities. However, these groups, as well as women, are also minorities in the sense of having less power in society than their majority counterparts: whites, heterosexuals, and men. Not only do non-Hispanic whites make up almost two-thirds of the United States population, they also have the greatest chance out of any racial or ethnic group of seeing others of their own race represented in places of power, and in the media. This unequal balance of power, resources, and opportunities also plays a role in shaping minority and majority group members’ experiences. This lack of representation within the minority groups is damaging in more ways than one.

Specifically for the members of minority groups, seeing a reflection of oneself in the media is crucial, particularly when being faced with prejudice, discrimination, and a world full of comments and actions that make them feel invalid. In fact, there was a recent study that finds evidence of a self-esteem boosting effect for white boys in regards to television, but self-esteem damaging effects for white girls, black girls, and black boys. The results showed that this boost of self-esteem is due to white boys constantly seeing white boys and men in the shows they watch. Not only are they seeing that, but they regularly see these characters and actors in positive, powerful, and central roles. This unfortunately less so in the case for the aforementioned groups of children. Although it is less frequent for members of minority groups to see a face or body that looks like their own, it is powerful in its effect to simply validate one’s self as a worthy human being.

With the Oscars of 2015 being referred to by some as “the whitest Oscars since 1998,” this issue of proper representation is one that has become more prevalent to the public eye. According to the New York Film Academy, only 12.4 percent of characters from the 2007-2012 top 500 grossing films were portrayed by black actors, while 75.8 percent of these roles were portrayed by white characters (speaking actors only). In addition, 40 percent of the top 100 grossing films from 2012 showed black characters as less than 5 percent of the speaking cast. Unfortunately, the underrepresentation of certain groups is not limited to people of color. Making up approximately half of the total U.S. population, women comprised only 30.8 percent of speaking characters in films from 2007-2012.

Along with underrepresentation, there has also been a long history of misrepresentation among minority groups. Through this misrepresentation many stereotypes have been created and magnified to the public eye. The easiest way to view the way these stereotypes are spread, despite them being factually inaccurate, is through all forms of media. The most available way to see these stereotypes is through movies and television. There are many character archetypes that have become so commonplace within groups of people that they even become running jokes within pop culture. Though many people are aware of these existing archetypes, many of them still remain unaware of the underlying motives behind them.

Within motion pictures, the most common tropes available for the characters of color are the token minority, the villain (most often a gun toting, muscular black man), the comedic relief, and the loud mouthed/sassy friend. The message behind this follows the pattern of a self-fulfilling prophecy, not only showing majority groups that these are the roles they should be sorting any person of color into within their own lives, but showing people of color that this is all they can aspire to be. Being so heavily prominent within the daily lives of people, along with the constant repetition between different media, these stereotypes are so easily engrained into the general mindset of the population.

A defining factor in why these stereotypes continue to be such a prominent feature in today’s world is the fascination with them that borders on the inappropriate and unnecessary. Examples of this can be seen in movies such as “The Help”, a movie that demonstrates, and at times even romanticizes,