Popular media has progressively become an aspect of daily life. The release of movies and TV shows is on the rise; however, the underrepresentation of certain groups continues to be an issue in the present day. There is an increasingly rampant lack of racial diversity in the media, in the sense that the leading and main roles are typically credited to white people. Unfortunately, the underrepresentation of certain groups in not limited to people of color, individuals with non-binary gender identities, and other minorities, instead, it further extends to older adults; a portion of the population that is increasing in industrialized counties. Demographically, this means that older adults are not a minority and should be acknowledged in popular media. Without a complete representation of all groups, a growing sense of alienation among the underrepresented will prosper. In point of fact, this is not to
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Earlier findings reveal that the older adult, child, female, and Latino characters were underrepresented, whereas middle-aged, male, and white character were overrepresented (Harwood & Anderson, 2002). For this reason, without the presence of ethnical minorities in mass media, there is difficulty in distinguishing whether older adults of different ethnicities are depicted distinctively. Based on the way popular media is, it is probable that all older adults are depicted in the same manner, particularly in regards to their cognitive abilities and other aspects of aging. In point of fact, the dissimilarity is likely to be discernible due to factors that are also evident in adolescence of different ethnicities. One such example can be Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model, showing that the sociocultural perspective of individuals is impacted by family, neighborhood, and events (McArthur, personal communication, May 31,
Earlier findings reveal that the older adult, child, female, and Latino characters were underrepresented, whereas middle-aged, male, and white character were overrepresented (Harwood & Anderson, 2002). For this reason, without the presence of ethnical minorities in mass media, there is difficulty in distinguishing whether older adults of different ethnicities are depicted distinctively. Based on the way popular media is, it is probable that all older adults are depicted in the same manner, particularly in regards to their cognitive abilities and other aspects of aging. In point of fact, the dissimilarity is likely to be discernible due to factors that are also evident in adolescence of different ethnicities. One such example can be Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model, showing that the sociocultural perspective of individuals is impacted by family, neighborhood, and events (McArthur, personal communication, May 31,