Unit_5_--_Stereotypes_and_Social_Class_in_Media_Representation__2-18-25_

Stereotypes

Oversimplified imagery of identity groups used to make quick sense of understanding people.

Visual Media

A form of communication that uses visual elements to convey information, which can exacerbate the absorption of stereotypes.

Identity group categories

Mental categories created in our minds based on visual cues, often leading to the reinforcement of stereotypes.

Social class stereotypes

Oversimplified and often negative portrayals of individuals based on their socioeconomic status.

‘White trash’ stereotypes

Categories used to characterize whites at the low end of the socioeconomic ladder.

Duck Dynasty

A reality television show that plays on redneck stereotypes while featuring wealthy characters.

Judge Judy

A television show that presents working-class individuals in a court setting, often highlighting moral failings among poorer demographics.

Social and moral distance

The perceived separation in class and identity between the media's portrayal of people and the audience.

Symbolic capital

The non-economic resources that enable individuals to access social status, which can be manipulated in media representation.

Neoliberal ideal

The belief that the upper class is inherently entitled to dominate the lower class, validated through media portrayals.