The mass media act as an agent of socialization, teaching individuals the social and cultural ideals of their society. As individuals, the media not only teach us about society’s expectations and desired behaviors, but we also learn which social identities our society values the most and which are seen as less desirable.
For this discussion, you will examine what role the mass media play in replicating and reinforcing the stratification systems connected to a variety of social identities.
Read the articles:
The Objectification of Women in Advertising: https://www.media-marketing.com/en/opinion/objectification-women-advertising/
review The Role of the Mass Media in Representations of Age, Social Class, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality, and Disability: in files
Answer the following:
* For the first part of this discussion, select two of the following social identities: age, class, physical ability, body size, sexuality, and/or ethnicity. (Sexuality & Ethnicity)
* For each of the two identities you select:
* Describe the system of stratification for that identity in the United States.
* How do the media generally portray this identity group? In particular, do the media representations convey any messages about which members of this group society values most? Please provide an example for why or why not.
* Explain how the media representations either reinforce or challenge the associated stratification system.
* Next, consider gender and beauty ideals.
* What beauty ideals do the media in the United States reinforce for men? For women?
* Corporations use the media to sell their products; however, in doing so, they are also reinforcing society’s norms and values about which bodies are most highly valued in our society. Describe a recent commercial or advertisement you have seen, and explain how it reinforces society’s beauty ideals.
* Describe one real-life consequence for either men or women who do not meet society’s beauty ideals that are reinforced by the media. This short article: https://www.newsweek.com/poll-how-much-beauty-worth-work-74305
may help you with this component.
Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or scholarly resources, and properly cite any references both in text and reference lust in APA format.
Additional Resources
Newman, D.M. (2016). Identities and inequalities: Exploring the intersections of race, class, gender, & sexuality (3rd ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com/
* Chapter 3: Portraying Identities: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in Language and the Media
* Chapter 4: Learning Identities: Families, Schools, and Socialization
Cultural Heritage Tour Guide. (2014, September 9). Clothing of South African Zulu tribe women
Links to an external site.
. Retrieved from http://african.culturextourism.com/clothing-south-african-zulu-tribe-women/
Livesey, C. (2007). The role of the mass media in representations of age, social class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and disability
Suggett, P. (2020, March 17). The objectification of women in advertising
Links to an external site.
. Retrieved from https://www.media-marketing.com/en/opinion/objectification-women-advertising
Trimble, J. E., & Dickson, R. (2005). Ethnic identity
Links to an external site.
. In C. B. Fisher & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Applied developmental science: An encyclopedia of research, policies, and programs (pp. 415-419). Sage Publications, Inc. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236844509_Ethnic_identity
Bennett, J. (2010, July 18). Poll: How much is beauty worth at work?
Links to an external site.
Newsweek. Retrieved from http://www.newsweek.com/poll-how-much-beauty-worth-work-74305
