UCSC Fall 2013
Paper Topic Rough Draft DUE NOVEMBER 5
Media Influences on Developing Stereotypes
One important possible explanation for the prevalence of racial, ethnic, gender, and class stereotypes in our society is that the media may influence children and adults to form or retain such stereotypes. In this paper you will consider evidence on such stereotypes in the media, and connect that evidence to theories and research findings discussed in class or in your textbook.
Goals for this paper:
1) Choose two media programs with different target audiences, observe some programming, and describe some differences in way stereotypes are represented. For example, you might choose a magazine targeted to men and another magazine targeted to women, and discuss gender stereotypes represented. Another possibility might be to watch a TV show on
Telemundo and another show on a primetime major network, and discuss the ethnic stereotypes you see in each. You should choose two examples from one type of venue (e.g. two TV shows) but which type of venue you choose is up to you (e.g., tv, video games, websites, magazines etc). Focus on one type of stereotype for both example venues (e.g. gender, ethnic, racial, sexual preference, or class). Consider similarities and differences you see in the particular stereotypes represented in the two examples.
2) Relate the stereotypes you are seeing to any one concept or theory described in the textbook or in lecture. Then relate the stereotype to one study described in the textbook or lecture. In the textbook, Chapters 10 and 16 may be most relevant, but you might find concepts/theories and studies in other chapters as well. Try to include a concept, theory or study that addresses the possible influence of seeing these kinds of stereotypes.
3) Building on the research, discuss how these experiences might influence children’s thinking or how they interact with other people. Are these influences likely to continue into adulthood?
Give your view on whether these media influences might be harmful, and if so, whether there are ways to reduce these effects.
Specific Paper Content:
In the first paragraph of your paper, you will:
Summarize IN YOUR OWN WORDS, and in an objective way, the two pieces of programming that you viewed. A good summary will highlight the important points (who, what, when, where, and why). Once you have described objectively what you have observed, you should compare and contrast the two.
In the next paragraph, you will:
Relate the media programming to any one concept or theory described in the textbook or in lecture. Be sure to, IN YOUR OWN WORDS, accurately define the psychological concept or describe the theory you have chosen, and to properly cite the material. Make sure the relevance
(or link) between the media you are writing about and the psychological concept or theory is clear and appropriate (i.e., demonstrates your mastery of the concept or theory).
In the next paragraph, you will:
Relate the media programming to any one study described in the textbook or in lecture. Be sure to accurately state the main findings of the study IN YOUR OWN WORDS, and to properly cite the material. Make sure the relevance (or link) between the media you are writing about and the study is clear and appropriate (i.e., demonstrates your mastery of the study).
In the next 1-2 paragraphs, you will:
Critically analyze the media examples you observed in light of the textbook- or lecture-based concept/theory and study to which you related the media representations. For example, you may choose to discuss at least one of the following:
• Describe ways in which the media stereotypes may give harmful implicit messages to children about gender, ethnicity, or class differences.
• Describe how information in the textbook or lecture contradict the stereotypes shown.
• If you did not see any stereotypes, explain why you think