Social Essay
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MediaandSocialConstructs1.pptxMedia & Social Constructs
Social constructivism
A theory based on the notion that certain mechanisms, phenomena, and categories are created or developed by society
Social Constructs
Social constructs: seem like facts or givens, but are actually invented by an individual society
Depend on social conventions and expectations
Include…
identities (gender; race)
self-concepts (we define ourselves by our interaction with others and what we think others perceive us to be)
roles (gender; professions)
practices (religion)
institututions (education, schooling)
social movements (feminism)
etc
The Media & Constructs
Socialization: prolonged exposure to media messages shape our world and how we view it and the social roles of ourselves and others
Constructs often help (intentionally or unintentionally) to perpetuate the status quo or hegemony
Hegemony: the social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group
The Media & Constructs
The media can help produce new constructs (formation), perpetuate constructs (think stereotypes), or disrupt constructs (productive media)
Media-based REACTIONS to social constructs:
---Black Lives Matter
---I Look Like an Engineer
---Muslim Rage
Constructs: Definitions
Constructs are created through:
Representation: what identities, beliefs, and values are being celebrated, and how?
Absence: what is NOT being shown
Misrepresentation and underrepresentation: just because something or someone is shown, does mean they are done so fairly
Gender
Gender is a spectrum
Masculinity and femininity are social constructs: society decides what it means to be masculine or feminine
Gender is a learned trait
What is the hegemonic “gender”?
Sexuality
In the media:
Heterosexual = normal; the hegemonic sexuality
Heteronormativity = media created based on the assumption that heterosexual is the norm; media intended to reproduce heterosexuality as the norm
Also reinforces the belief that gay relationships have a “man” and a “woman” to fit gender roles
The mass media’s lens is through that
Race
Race as a cultural category (vs. populations)
Historically, whiteness has been the hegemony
Baby Doll Test, Implicit Bias Tests
Other Constructs
Community
Shifting meaning: online community
Purity
When is purity valued? In whom?
Education
What is educated? Who defines it?
