Media Representation of CAGE

Media representations of social class exhibit significant variation, with the working class depicted through narrow and often negative stereotypes:
- Historical Representations: Popular costume dramas emphasise themes of servitude, poverty, and criminality.
- Contemporary Depictions: Today's media often highlight problematic behaviours associated with the working class, such as crime and welfare dependency.
Common portrayals suggest working-class individuals are:
- Dangerous and unpredictable
- Involved in illegal or immoral activities
- Dependent on state support and affluent classes

According to Jones (2011), media narratives symbolise an assault on working-class values. From the 1980s onward, negative views of the working class became prevalent, painting them as feckless and uneducated. The genuine experiences and aspirations of working-class individuals are often overlooked.
The Glasgow Media Group indicates that working-class voices have limited access and control over their media portrayals, which are frequently negative.

Ehrenreich argues that depictions of the working class convey that they are:
- Inarticulate
- Lazy
- Un-capable
These portrayals effectively silence their voices, contributing to society’s misconceptions.
In contrast, negative behaviours of the middle and upper classes are often attributed to individual weaknesses rather than representing the entire class.
For example, the 2008 financial crisis is typically attributed to a few rogue bankers instead of systemic issues tied to wealth distribution.

Gender stereotypes predominantly focus on two areas: physical attributes and emotional roles.
Traditional gender representations reinforce clear distinctions, though contemporary portrayals have begun to integrate more fluid representations.
Changes: There's a growing trend in the media to present male bodies appealingly, while female bodies remain heavily sexualised for marketing purposes.

The concept of the Male Gaze (Mulvey, 1975) signifies how women's portrayals are often filtered through a masculine perspective:
- Women's lives are seen through the lens of male desires, reinforcing gender inequality.
- The male gaze objectifies women, largely ignoring older women in favour of younger, more desirable figures.
- It perpetuates a culture where women may internalise this view, objectifying themselves and each other.

Grant et al (2006) note that women face a "double jeopardy" regarding age and gender discrimination, where younger women confront societal pressures about appearance, while older women may feel devalued as they lose youth-based desirability.

Representations in media often reflect broader societal expectations that females should be cooperative while dominant females are derided.
McDonald (2003) identifies an emerging category of females ("ladettes") who challenge traditional stereotypes, illustrating evolving gender dynamics.

Young people and children are often portrayed through the lens of adult perspectives, leading to both idealised and negative representations:
- Children are viewed as innocent yet unruly, fuelling fears regarding their development in a tech-driven society.
- Pearson (1983) illustrates how youth representations can lead to moral panics, attributing negative traits (e.g., rebellion, selfishness) to young people.

Wayne (2007) analysed news coverage and found that young people are predominantly depicted as criminals or victims, despite most not engaging in such behaviours.

Minority ethnic groups are frequently underrepresented or misrepresented in media, often reflecting societal inequalities:
- While overt racism has diminished, Hall (1995) identifies a shift toward "inferential racism" that highlights cultural differences.
Carrington (2002) proposes that representations often promote stereotypes tied to athleticism or exoticism, perpetuating a narrative of otherness.

Media representations favour a white, middle-class perspective, often framing minorities in a binary opposition as "victims" versus "saviours."
There exists an underrepresentation of minorities in significant media roles, reinforcing stereotypes through minimal visibility and distorted narratives.

Overall, media plays a pivotal role in shaping social perceptions through its representation of class, age, gender, and ethnicity. Each representation contributes to societal narratives that impact how groups are understood and treated within broader contexts. Awareness of these dynamics is essential for fostering a more equitable media landscape.