Media Stereotype

Introduction

Today, we operate in a society where most developing societies move through the exchange of information. We live in an era of communications. Since its inception, where its role was purely to inform and communicate, the media has changed dramatically at a point where it dominates our perceptions and opinions, guide the course of our lives and dictate our behaviors. It is at this point that human beings should draw the line and set a limit. The stereotypes exhibited by the media ingrain our minds to the point that we perceive and label them as "natural" humans.

The existence of stereotypes in the media is inevitable, particularly in the field of advertising, entertainment and information, three areas where information needs to be understood quickly by the widest possible audience. Stereotypes are used as codes, common denominator, to define the individuals or groups, usually according to their social class, race or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, occupation or role in society.

Stereotypes, however, have problematic aspects; they may mask very different realities in primary simplifications, prejudices have on individuals and groups as if they were "truths", justify the position of authority in place and perpetuate inequality and social injustice.

The media continues to offer a surprisingly consistent picture of our society. In a multicultural country like Canada, whose population is 13% in a visible minority, under-represent and often provide negative and stereotypical representation of ethnic minorities in the information and entertainment industry. Analysts use a wide variety of situations to illustrate this problem: the media use too often visible minorities as foreigners, and racial bias in the coverage of crime is common.

This news media and the entertainment industry helps create or reinforce prejudices about ethnic minorities, especially the people of color. This paper examines how stereotyping takes place in the artisans of the...