Diversity in U.S. Mass Media is designed to help undergraduate and graduate students deepen the conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion in the media industries. Identifying consistencies and differences in representations of social identity groups in the United States, this comprehensive textbook critically examines a wide range of issues surrounding media portrayals of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, class, and religion. Throughout the text, students are encouraged to contextualize various issues, place one social group within the framework of others, and consider how diverse communities inform and intersect with each other.
Now in its third edition, Diversity in U.S. Mass Media addresses ongoing problematic portrayals, highlights recent progress, presents new research studies and observations, and offers innovative approaches for promoting positive change across the media landscape. Two entirely new chapters explore the ways identity-based social movements, Artificial Intelligence (AI), gaming, social media, and social activism construct, challenge, and defend representations of different groups. Updated references and new examples of social group depictions in streaming services and digital media are accompanied by expanded discussion of intersectionality, social activism, creating inclusive learning and working environments, media depictions of mixed-race individuals and couples, and more.
Offering fresh insights into the contemporary issues surrounding depictions of social groups in films, television, and the press, Diversity in U.S. Mass Media: - Examines the historical evolution and current media depictions of American Indians, African Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans, Arab Americans, and Asian Americans - Helps prepare students in Journalism and Mass Communication programs to work in diverse teams - Covers the theoretical foundations of research in mass media representations, including social comparison theory and feminist theory - Contains a wealth of real-world examples illustrating the concepts and perspectives discussed in each chapter - Includes access to an instructor's website with a test bank, viewing list, exercises, sample syllabi, and other useful pedagogical tools
Diversity in U.S. Mass Media, Third Edition, remains an ideal textbook for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in Media Communication, Film and Television Studies, Journalism, American Studies, Entertainment and Media Research, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Table of Contents
List of Figures xi
List of Tables xv
List of Boxes xvii
Preface xix
About the Companion Website xxi
1 Introduction 1
Social Identity 2
Racial/Ethnic Identity 3
Gender Identity 5
Sexual Identity 6
Age Identity 7
Disability Identity 7
Class Identity 8
Organization of the Book 8
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 10
References 10
2 Theoretical Foundations of Research in Mass Media Representations 13
Mass Media Representations: Social Psychological Perspectives 13
Framing 14
Social Comparison Theory 17
Socialization 19
Cultivation Theory 20
Media Representations: Critical Perspectives 22
Hegemony 23
The Concept of Representation 24
Feminist Theory 26
Three Waves of Feminism 27
Queer Theory 28
Concluding Remarks 29
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 29
References 30
Part I 35
3 Representations of American Indians 37
Historical Background to American Indian Representations 38
American Indians in Film 39
American Indians in Entertainment Television 46
Representations of American Indians in the News 52
American Indians and New Media 56
Concluding Remarks 57
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 58
References 59
4 Representations of African Americans 63
Historical Background to African American Representations 64
African Americans in Film 65
Who is Telling the Story? 70
Historical Contextualization of Films 72
African Americans in Entertainment Television 73
African American Music 78
Representations of African Americans in the News 79
African Americans in Newsrooms 83
African Americans and Advertisements 84
African Americans in the Media Business 85
Concluding Remarks 87
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 87
References 87
5 Representations of Latino/Hispanic Americans 93
Historical Background to Latino/Hispanic Representations 94
Latinos/Hispanics in Film 95
Latinos/Hispanics in Entertainment Television 99
Latinos/Hispanics and the Music Industry 106
Representations of Latinos/Hispanics in the News 108
Spanish-Language Newspapers in the United States 108
Spanish-Language Magazines in the United States 109
Latinos/Hispanics and Advertisements 110
Patterns of Assimilation and Colorism 110
Concluding Remarks 112
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 113
References 113
6 Representations of Arabs/Arab Americans 117
Historical Background to Arab/Arab American Representations 117
Arabs/Arab Americans in Film 119
Arabs/Arab Americans in Entertainment Television 125
Representations of Arabs/Arab Americans in the News 129
Concluding Remarks 134
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 135
References 135
7 Representations of Asians/Asian Americans 139
Historical Background to Asian/Asian American Representations 140
Asians/Asian Americans in Film 141
Asians/Asian Americans in Entertainment Television 150
Representations of Asians/Asian Americans in the News 157
Asian/Asian American Activism and New Media 161
Concluding Remarks 164
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 164
References 165
8 Representations of Mixed- Race Individuals and Relationships 169
Historical Background to Representations of Race Mixing 170
Race Mixing in Film 172
Race Mixing in Entertainment Television 179
Representations of Mixed- Race Individuals and Relationships in the News 188
Mixed-Race Individuals/Couples, Social Media, and Advertising 190
Concluding Remarks 192
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 193
References 194
9 Representations of Gender in Television, Film, and Music Videos 197
Historical Background to Gender Representations in Film and Television 198
Gender in Film 200
Gender in Entertainment Television 209
Gender in the Music Industry 220
Concluding Remarks 226
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 228
References 228
10 Representations of Gender in Magazines, Newspapers, and Advertising 233
Historical Background to Women in Magazines 235
Gender in Magazines 236
Gender in Newspapers 240
Gender in Advertising 246
Gender Trends and the “Male Gaze” 249
Gender in New Media 252
Concluding Remarks 253
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 254
References 254
11 Representations of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People in the Media 259
Historical Background to LGBT Representations 260
LGBT in Film 262
LGBT in Entertainment Television 268
LGBT Representations in the Music Industry 274
Representations of LGBT in the News 276
LGBT and Magazines 277
LGBT Representations in Paid and Shared Media 280
Concluding Remarks 281
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 282
References 283
12 Representations of Age 287
Historical Background to Ageist Stereotypes and the Myths of Aging 288
Senior Citizens and Teenagers in the United States 289
Age in Film 290
Representations of Older and Elderly People 290
Representations of Teenagers 294
Age in Entertainment Television 299
Representations of Older and Elderly People 299
Representations of Teenagers 302
Age in the News 305
Representations of Older and Elderly People 305
Representations of Teenagers 306
Age and New Media 308
Concluding Remarks 309
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 310
References 310
13 Representations of People with Disabilities 315
Historical Background to Representations of People with Disabilities 315
People with Disabilities in Film 318
People with Disabilities in Entertainment Television 322
People with Disabilities in the News 327
People with Disabilities in Advertising 331
Concluding Remarks 333
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 334
References 334
14 Representations of Class 339
Historical Background to Class Representations 339
Class in Film 342
Class in Entertainment Television 348
Representations of Class in the News 354
Concluding Remarks 357
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 358
References 358
Part II 361
15 Representations of Religion and Faith in the Media 363
Historical Background to Faith and Religion Representations 364
Religion and Faith in Film 366
Martyrdom in Film 367
Films about Those Struggling with Faith 369
Films as Windows into Faith Traditions 370
Representations of Religion and Faith on Television 370
Televangelism 375
Representations of Faith and Religion in News 377
Denominational Magazines 379
Concluding Remarks 379
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 380
References 380
16 Media Industries Addressing Diversity 385
Industry Diversity Statements 385
Interviews with Media Professionals 389
Gavriel Shankerman 389
Rebecca Traister 391
Kent Takano 392
Laura Watson 394
Richard Prince 394
Peter Walpole 396
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 396
References 397
17 AI, Algorithms, and Social Media: Impact on Social Group Representations 399
Historical Background to Web Development and Digital Media Content 399
Diverse Voices and Representations via the Web 401
Algorithms and Hindrances to Diversity 401
Social Media and Representation 404
Concluding Remarks 407
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 407
References 407
18 Media and Social Movements 411
Historic Representations of Social Movements in the Media 413
#MeToo 415
#MeToo - Too Far? 421
Black Lives Matter 424
Shut Up and Dribble? 429
Black Women’s Lives Matter 430
Rampage or Revolution 432
Concluding Remarks 432
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 433
References 433
19 Conclusion 439
Common Threads in Mass Media Representations 439
Psychological Impact of Mass Media Representations 441
Diverse Media Outlets as Counteracting Agents 441
Reflection Questions and Thoughts to Consider 446
References 446
Digging Deeper 449
One Representation Replaces Another 449
Suggestions for Further Exploration 449
Sexuality and Power 450
Suggestions for Further Exploration 450
Rules and Regulations Influence Representations 450
Suggestions for Further Exploration 451
The Symbolic Annihilation of a Social Group 451
Suggestions for Further Exploration 451
Minorities as the “Other” 452
Suggestions for Further Exploration 452
The News Media Relies on White Males to Tell the Story 452
Suggestions for Further Exploration 452
Technology Offers New Opportunities 453
Suggestions for Further Exploration 453
Understanding Your Role in an Ever-moving Continuum 453
Social Identity Map 454
Final Remarks 455
Suggestions for Further Exploration 455
References 455
Glossary of Key Terms/Concepts 457
Index 465
