Media Bias Against People With Disabilities

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Do people believe that the media can be bias and harmful? There are various answers for this question. The media can be very influencing to the world’s youth. It gives people an image of who they want to be. Some people don’t think that the media can be biased. However, the media can twist people’s perception of the news they’re giving them. The mass media is bias against people of a certain race, a certain body shape or size, and people with disabilities.
The media can be biased against people of a certain race. “Communities of color are not represented in proportion to their numbers” (Love 1-). This statement reveals that people of color are not shown as often as whites. When people turn on the news, normally they see a white person as the anchor. People of color are not being represented as much as they should be. “In 2002, minorities were cast in a record number of roles... Since then, there has been a steady downward trend in available television opportunities” (Love 1-). This quote states that minority roles were cast more in 2002 than today. How is it that, in a day so full of racism and hate, there were still more roles than now? In a day where there is an African American president, people of color still get little recognition. “In Hollywood Shuffle, Robert Townsend plays a struggling black actor who is faced with few job prospects except for demeaning stereotyped roles as jive-talking street hustlers” (Love 1-). This statement shows that even if a person of color got the role, he/she would be stereotypical parts. Even when they get the part, they are not shown in the right way. The media can be bias against people of color because of preconceived conceptions and stereotypes. There is media bias against people of a certain weight. “In just three years of TV exposure, the rate of disordered eating in teens jumped from zero to 11 percent. Of the 63 surveyed, 15 percent admitted to resorting to vomiting to control their weight. Another 69 percent said they adopted some form of dieting” (Johnson 1-). After seeing a bunch of super skinny models on a show, young girls tried to change themselves to fit in. They turned
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“For some industries, pitching to the disabled is a unique opportunity, while for others simply including them in ad campaigns could tap into a reservoir of goodwill that will pay off in brand loyalty” (NG 1-). This quote shows that businesses only use people with disabilities to boost sales. They aren’t really trying to boost awareness; they are just trying to sell their product. “People with disabilities are not a cause... People with disabilities and their families want to be seen as contributing members of society, just like anyone else” (NG 1-). The businesses that show people with disabilities are trying to use them as a “cause.” They don’t really see them as people. “Out of 639 of the largest United states based [public companies analyzed, 31 percent indicated an interest in the market of people with disabilities... Only 7 percent acted on them with measureable efforts” (NG 1-). Businesses have ideas to boost awareness, but do not actually act on them. They are too afraid to lose business and customers. The media is bias against people with disabilities because they are afraid to lose

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