Stereotypes associated with different social groups

Isobel Bayliss

A Level media

Gender

Men• Men have ‘dirty’ jobs such as mechanics,

builders etc…

• They love cars

• They enjoy sports

• Men do not do housework

• They make more money than women

• Men are always in charge or at the top

• They are lazy and messy

• As husbands they tell their wives what to do

• Men are heroic

Women• Women are not as strong as men

• They do not play sports

• They do not have labour jobs

• Women do not speak out like men

• They are quiet and do as they are told

• They are the damsel in distress; never the hero

• They are pretty and there to be looked at

• They are flirts

• Women are never in charge

Gender stereotypes in the mediaThis is a representation of gender in TV Drama from the ‘honourable woman’. This is about a powerful businesswoman. This is not a stereotype because usually the man is seen more powerful than the woman.

An example to reinforce the stereotype of women being the homemakers and men being the breadwinners is ‘desperate housewives’. In this TV drama it followed the lives of women who stayed at home whilst their husbands were out making a living.

Age

Young (teenagers)• Selfish

• Lazy

• Arrogant

• Judgemental

• Unemployed

• Drinkers

• Smokers

• Not bothered about education

• Not independent

• Rude

Old (pensioners)• Wise

• Vulnerable

• Weak

• Small

• Fragile

• Forgetful

• Grey haired/bald

• Knitting

• Quiet

• Wrinkly

• Look down on teenagers

Age stereotypes in TV dramaThe first stereotype of age in the media is from the show ‘misfits’ this shows a group of anti social teenagers who are doing community service.

Common stereotypes of adults and children are seen in the TV show ‘outnumbered’. Showing behaviours from both sides that families can relate to.

Ethnicity

• Eastern European; - spies, thieves, corrupt governments and rich

• Black/ African American; - been in jail, involved in crime, highly religious, doctors, living in poverty, good athletes and singers

• White;- Unemployed, drink a lot, friendly, eat a lot, benefits and Christians and undereducated

• Asian;- old traditions, parents are strict and conservative, clever, doctors and poor.

Ethnicity stereotypes in TV dramaOne stereotype of ethnicity is that Asians are well educated and have strict parents and that white brits drink a lot. An example from TV drama could be EastEnders. Tamwar is Asian and comes from a strict background and most of the characters spend a lot of time in the local pub.

Sexuality

• Gay men – camp, feminine and outgoing

• Lesbian women – butch, short hair and masculine

• Bisexual – adventurous

Sexuality stereotypes in TV dramaOne example of stereotypes of gay men can be seen in the TV drama ‘cucumber’ on channel 4. This follows the lives of gay men. Some of the characters can be seen as camp and feminine.

Disability

• Disabled - Pitiable, unable to carry out simple tasks in everyday life and the target of bullying, not independent.

• Able bodied – feel sympathetic to those with a disability

• Mental disability – unreliable, not independent, violent

Disability stereotypes in TV dramaA stereotype of disabled people being dependent on others and not being able to carry out everyday tasks alone is from ‘little Britain’.

An anti-stereotype is the character Izzy from coronation street. She is not seen as any different from any of the other characters, therefore showing her as equal in society.

Regional identity

• Northerners – drink a lot, eat chips and gravy, tight with their money, unemployment and some are rude

• Southerners – snobby, traditional, working class, arrogant, commuters and well educated

• Essex – girls are blonde, tans are orange and everything is ‘glam’

• Cockneys – rhyming slang and famous for EastEnders.

• Irish – drunks, like Guinness and have large families

• Scottish – loud, angry and patriotic and tight with money

• Welsh – farmers, surrounded by sheep, play rugby and have a strange language

Regional stereotypes in the mediaThe first stereotype is essex girls from the tvshow ‘TOWIE’. Showing girls who are blonde, loud, orange and glamourous.

A stereotype of northerners being unemployed or poor. Is from the documentary ‘beauty queen or bust’ showing girls from up north who are living with little money trying to make a career. In the black country in places such as Hull, Dudley and Walsall.

Social Class

• Upper class – rich, well dressed, well spoken, intellectual, snobs, land owners, trust funds and superior.

• Middle class – nice home, nice car, plays golf, business men, suburban areas, well off and nice family.

• Working class – manual work, factory workers, little savings, rented properties, and live in the inner city.

• Lower class – football hooligans, young mums, benefits, school dropouts, violent and antisocial.

Social class stereotypes in the mediaA stereotype of upper class is that they are rich, snobby, well dressed/educated and spend in excess. This can be seen in the TV drama ‘made in Chelsea’.

A stereotype of lower class is that they drink a lot, their anti-social or involved in crime and they live in run down areas. This can be seen in the TV drama ‘shameless’.