The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression
The memory I have of personal side of bias, prejudice, and oppression are ALL the reality television shows such as Bravo's Real Housewives franchise, to Love n Hip, Toddlers, and Tiaras, and the Bachelor. Keep in mind that a group of black men were suing ABC for not having black men on the show
(http://ideas.time.com/2012/10/22/does-the-bachelor-discriminate-against-black-men/).
The Real Housewives from Bravo tv does not give a true definition of what a housewife does. A housewife maintain all responsibilities of the household, and also responsibilities of the spouse and children. This show depicts these women as mean girls in which they do physically fight. The Love n Hip Hop shows how musicians and their love interest to their day to day life but when the musicians cheat on their wives- what are we teaching are children? Its alright to cheap/commit adultery? As for Toddlers and Tiaras- children are not trophies. I confess, I used to participate in pageants but the microaggressions towards me with my daughter was so strong I decide not to enter her in the pageants due to the ignorance of the judges. Plus my daughter's feisty personality is not pageant like. Last but not least the ABC show The Bachelor has not had a black bachelor? Why is that? Is this also the microaggression to society that black man aren't entrepreneur's, corporate material etc?
In order to change for greater equity we need to have television shows that will educate our children, adolescents, and youth who will then become mature adults. Currently, their is a fundraiser online to Bring Back Reading Rainbow. This is the type of television, online education we need for our children. As the children become adults the above shows that I mention degraded women, engages in violence, and stereotype men. Each of these shows have various different social identities and can have a prejudice spin on the races/cultures who are involved in these shows based on their actions which will in turn stereotype the ethnic groups.
See what happens when we can't get to Sesame Street?
References:
2014
Kickstarter, Inc.retrieved from
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/readingrainbow/bring-reading-rainbow-back-for-every-child-everywh
Your post is interesting; you are so right on how reality is depicted on television. If our children are not taught they will believe all people behave in the manner portrayed on T.V.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like advertisements would rather show false actions rather than true, life stories that reflect all culture. The thought that comes to mind is : society would rather believe a lie than receive and understand the truth.
Hello Brittney
ReplyDeleteYour post was not only interesting but also informative. It just goes to show that those who produce shows on TV are out to make money, therefore they make shows that they feel will bring in the money and that people will continue to watch, not shows that depict actualities. Most times they do not even have the children's interest at hand, which is sad.
Brittney,
ReplyDeleteI don't get a chance to watch a lot of tv so your post intrigued me. I started looking through network pages to look at current content. It is appalling. I am glad that they are making an effort to bring back Reading Rainbow. I remember watching shows as a young person that I enjoyed but had an educational component (like WIshbone or Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?). The amount of "reality" shows on air is ridiculous and misleads children and young adults into a false sense of real life.
Thank you for the thought provoking post.
Danielle