Diversity and the Media

Diversity and the Media

Media, as a powerful social system, plays a significant role in creating a sense of reality for individuals in society. Media acts as a loudspeaker that magnifies power relations; hence it can either expose or reinforce those who have political and social power in the community. Culture is learned and transmitted from generation to generation; therefore, an integrating mechanism that holds together a diverse group of organizational members (Geertz, 2017). Media and cultural diversity are interconnected since the level of understanding cultures, especially in the USA Society influence media content as well as media content and platforms have a significant impact on learning and day-to-day activities.

Cultural diversity is evident in the media context. For example, in a news media piece that differences in television is not just a black and white issue. In this piece, diversity is portrayed in such a way that Idris Elba addresses MPs and makes a claim on equality for all people of color and shapes. The content of the media piece always influences power. For example, with the above article, BBC assured to ensure equality by increasing the number of Black, Asian and minority groups on the media and as well offer senior managerial positions to individuals from the minority group.

. Theoretical perspectives promote understanding of the diversity concept; they include; conflict perspective functionalist perspective and culture of poverty perspective.

Conflict Perspective

Conflict theorists generally view social structure to be a proponent of inequality based on power differences due to diversity issues like social class, gender, race, and age. Culture initiates explicitly the problems of privilege for certain groups of people based upon gender race and even type. For instance, women tend to strive for equality in a male-dominated society, especially in employment opportunities, as depicted in the media piece. Women are assigned low-status jobs, whereas men tend to occupy positions of management and supervision. Power has been stipulated in the perspective as senior citizens try to protect their rights from the lawmakers. As well an advocacy group like ACLU is working to ensure the protection of rights of all ethnic groups and races in the United States. Cultural beliefs and norms create inequality within society as they tend to benefit some people and hurt other individuals. For instance, women were not allowed to engage in a voting exercise in the United States until 1920; the gay and lesbian population do not have the right to marry in individual states. Cultural diversity has been valued in the United States, but many people frown in situations of interracial marriages. Society system as a high impact on the culture as less powerful individuals have less ability to adapt to cultural change. Concerning the above media piece, there is hardly disabled presenters in the media, and black men are listened to once they become famous in American society.

Culture of Poverty Theory

Poverty is a social problem experienced in many societies around the globe. It refers to a lack of necessary material resources like food, shelter, and clothing. Hence the culture of poverty theory proposes that poverty is caused by people’s norms and cultural beliefs in society. This implies that the poor have cultural values that are different in the community as, when an individual grows up in a low-income family learns certain norms that shape life and opportunities in life. People tend to internalize and conform to the values and thus grow up poor and often remain poor. According to Oscar Lewis, living in conditions of poverty leads to the development of a poor culture, which is characterized by high levels of dependency, helplessness, and powerlessness (Lewis, 2016). The poor people are less valued and do not have a voice in society. According to the media piece chosen culture of poverty exists, for instance, in case of unemployment opportunities to women in the newsroom.

The culture of poverty theory has a significant impact on the United States policy towards the sparse population. It concentrates on the Negro family that is the black family due to family breakdown hence the decline of the male-headed household. A sense of powerlessness is stipulated as the family breakdown failed black males to succeed, including their generations. Reduced generation live in a world which they all see is poverty and desperation and do not have the interest to acquire news skills to rise above the poverty level. Parents thus teach their siblings to accept the circumstances rather than to strive and change the existing conditions. The cycle of poverty rotates, and although whites no longer own slaves, they feel superior to people of African origin. Privately educated individuals dominate the media.

Functionalist Perspective

Stratification plays a significant role in the functioning of society. Hence sociologists consider the social class issue of diversity to exist in the community, and this divides people with similar power, prestige, and wealth. From a functionalist perspective, in a given society, many roles need to be accomplished in day to day activities. For instance, some functions, like cleaning city street and security are elementary. On the other hand, some tasks like performing surgeries, designing buildings are complicated and need more intelligence and training. People who tend to perform complicated tasks are accorded more power prestige as well as money. Davis and Moore believed that reward attached to a specific job reflect its importance to the community.

The United States has had a historical and contemporary influence of discrimination culture. Racial discrimination exists, and it dramatically affects the lifestyle of minority groups in the United States society. It is evident in the media piece by the role allocated to Idris Elba as he was always asked to audition people of “athletic type” or “black males,” and this is a form of discrimination.

Racism

Racism is a form of discrimination whereby individuals are treated unequally due to skin color. It occurred during the slavery period, whereby the light-skinned workers were treated well as compared to dark-skinned workers. During the reconstruction era after Civil war amendments were passed, which promoted the idea of equality; hence al races were equal, but it was not the case for the United States since discrimination cases increased. For example, the mixing of races in public institutions was considered illegal, like in schools and restaurants. Concerning the media piece, Actors are moaning of racism. For instance, support for a boycott of the Oscars, the award is seen due to the failure of the nomination of a black actor and as well no female director nominated during the awards.

Gender Discrimination

Gender is directly linked to culture. Women and men have roles to play in society, which are culturally determined. Beliefs about ordinary females contribute to stereotypes that limit opportunities for women in the community. For example, gender discrimination is highly experienced in the labor market, which is an inequality that is structurally created. Gender is an issue that has been depicted in the USA Media society. Regarding the media piece and data statistic also the status of women in the media shows that men still dominate in many parts of news, digital media, and entertainment Women are underrepresented in the newsroom, and 47% of African American and multiracial staffs at newspapers are women population. The fact is that men outnumber women, and women seem to disappear from television to attain 50 years of age. The media piece source shows minority group differential in workforce employment concerning gender disparity and ethnicity

Minority and dominant groups are portrayed in a media piece concerning influences on discrimination. For instance, Social media plays a role in shaping the overall gender roles within the United States society. Regarding cultural policy, it is stipulated in such a way that gender discrimination is evident in the production of content.

Discrimination against Immigrants

Discrimination cases are highly experienced in the immigration population in the United States. Laws are passed to force individuals to carry their documents to prove their citizenship in specific designations. As well, another claim exists that immigrants are stealing American jobs. Immigrants often face discrimination due to skin color and cultural beliefs.

Discrimination in the Workforce

The United States has been a significant target for job opportunities around the globe. However, many immigrants have had difficulties accessing legal documents required in the immigration process. The workforce has been ethnically diverse, and although discriminatory employment practices are prohibited still, discrimination is experienced. Immigrants are discriminated in instances whereby they are not considered for employment opportunities, yet they meet the qualifications. Racial discrimination is a prominent experience among minority groups in the United States society as 60 % population experience some form of discrimination. Policies to more deportations and family separation have been enacted. As the media calls for mass removal, it leads to fear and stress among the undocumented youth immigrant in society. Nevertheless, 25% of the population faces interpersonal discrimination attributed to race and ancestry. Based on the data, social policy has had an impact on the minority groups, especially after the election of 2016, as President Donald Trump actively promotes racism culture through his speech and plans.

Racial and ethnic prejudice promotes discrimination against the subordinate groups in society. It entails the denial of certain fundamental rights. Robert Merton argues that we can prejudice and not discriminate, and at times we might not harm but discriminate. Individuals practice discrimination, and anti-black bias is evident in public areas. For instance, many individuals claim to have been denied services as well. They have been harassed by the police just because of their color. These represent cases of racism in the United States Society. Institutional discrimination entails practices of whole institutions like education, employment, housing, and health and affects a large number of individuals due to their race.  It can as well be based on gender and disability factors. Institutions find themselves practicing discrimination, although they do not intend to. The perfect example applies about height requirements for police, which is common in many states. Mostly women were considered to be short during the recruitment as well people from racial groups like the Latinos were quick as compared to non-Latino whites.

Statistical data support the tenant of the media piece.

From the above statistics, it is evident that diversity in the media is for all people of color and shapes. Elba’s speech focuses on one class of individuals that tend to dominate in the media; hence diversity in the current world is just more than a person’s color. The difference is an issue of great concern, and policies for equality should be stipulated to create a conducive environment for every person in society.

References

Jones, Q., & Soylu, A. (2009). A Continuous Struggle: Employment Discrimination. The Global Studies Journal, 2(2), 35-44. doi:        10.18848/1835 4432/cgp/v02i02/41001

Lewis, O. (2016). The Culture of Poverty. Scientific American, 215(4), 19-25. doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican1066-19

Geertz, C. (2017). Common Sense as a Cultural System. The Antioch Review, 33(1), 5. doi: 10.2307/4637616

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10177548/San-Franci