eng 350-negative_contribution_of_media_in_identity_construction._revised.-assign.docx

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Lennis Yesenia Ortega

Professor Forcey

Advanced Expository Writing

(Date)

The Negative Contribution Of Media In Identity Construction

Identity is a crucial issue that plagues humanity. Identity issues trouble people of all ages,

especially adolescents advancing into adulthood. The press has splendidly shaped the theme of

identity. Facets that characterize identity include disability, self-image, personality,

involves sharing pictures and personal views that stir the debates/communication, express views

by liking and disliking contents, or commenting on the content posted.

Unlike social media, the general 'media' broadcasts information through channels such as

television and film. The mainstream media similarly advocates/ critique some aspects of the

topic mentioned above. Some even run reality shows that address these views. As mentioned

earlier, those facets of identity are some of the issues that form the basis for critical debates and

expressions of thoughts. This paper provides a critical analysis of the negative roles the media

plays in influencing the concept of identity. The media has more detrimental effects on

individuals’ identity duty to its biased portrayal of facts.

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Media and disability.

The media barely recognizes people with disability. The world acknowledges disability

cases ranging from blindness, people with mental illnesses such as Down Syndrome, those

without feet, and so on. Hudson (2018) writes about Helen Keller, a renowned writer and

influencer who was blind. Her story trends all over the media since her parents paid for her

publication. People have mixed ideas about disabilities, for such related issues barely go beyond

the walls in which these people reside. Some have stayed in the dark, and none of their stories

gets featured anywhere. Hudson admits the media's partiality in advocating different content;

to every member of the society, whom the media considers complete. As a powerful instrument

of self-awareness, the UN poses a challenge to the media; to change the misconceptions and

instead make people aware of individuals with disabilities' contributions and strengths instead of

dwelling on the negative aspects only, which distorts the world’s view of them.

Media and Body Image

Body image is one of the topics passionately discussed in the media. People have chosen

to conform to the new standards set by the press due to its great influence. Social media has

posed a significant challenge by advocating for some measure of beauty that dictates specific

body features/ sizes as the only beauty elements, thus negatively affecting people's identity,

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particularly those who may not reach these thresholds set. According to research done by

Vartanian, Giant & Passino (2001), women fall victim to snares the media sets for specific body

sizes. It emphasizes thinness, a notion that women fall for, consequently leading to eating

disorders to lose weight and attain the "perfectness" the media advocates. Surprisingly, men, too,

find themselves in this predicament, with some striving to be thin while the rest of them aiming

to gain weight.

Vartanian et al. (2001) report teasing resulting from the media due to specific body

shapes that raise identity concerns. With the media continually posing pictures and perceptions

women as sex objects taints the value of women. Objectifying women interferes with their

identity so that their bodies get objectified instead of appreciating them for who they are as

individuals.

The media’s portrayal of race

The issue of race features among the most heated topics of all time. The minorities such

as the African Americans have always raised cries detailing their marginalization because of

their colour. Dukes & Gaither (2017) report that the media continuously portray these groups on

the opposing side. The media intentionally overrepresent the people of colour as criminals

compared to their white counterparts, inciting hostility from the public. The media’s actions in

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presenting contradicting information about the identity associated with African-American

descent threatens the innocent who becomes victims due to media representation. Dukes &

Gaither (2017) further elaborate on the adverse effects the media plays, which results in the

dehumanization of the minorities [especially African Americans]. Even though the people of

colour get mistreated and killed faultlessly, the media partially chooses to focus on the issue such

as victims' criminal records, their body sizes, crime scene locations, and the victims' ways of life.

The irony of the media is that it blames all the atrocities done to the victims themselves. The

study, therefore, brings out the negative role the media plays on racial identities. One of them is

notions. The press, even in the past, has subsequently channelled information that perpetuated

stigmatization. Their content sidelines those perceived as unattractive and unsuitable for media

coverage through advertisements. The media's choice on what features and what does not

negatively affects people's perceptions. It prompts prejudice concerning gender and disability.

Parsons et al. (2017) cite invisibility as one of the consequences of biased media. Invisibility

causes stigmatization and isolation of people based on gender and disability. In doing this, the

press either masks their identity or adds mud to their identity, robbing these individuals of their

true selves.

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Women are one of the unlucky groups that the media marginalizes. Society is still

adjusting to the fact that women are equally able beings, and like their male counterparts, they

can excel in several areas. However, since different cultures are yet to adapt to this fact, women

continue being at risk of marginalization. —unfortunately, a woman bearing any form of

disability experiences alienation/stigmatization more than those without disabilities. Especially

in societies that devalue women, the media in film and advertisement is likely to harm the

females due to corrupted perceptions it feeds to the public. Parsons et al. (2017) note that even

the male and female genders' population get misinterpreted. Parsons et al. (2017) similarly

rising cases of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, and Transgender activism, the media has chosen to

involve itself by allowing the publication of views, some of which distort the truth. The media's

proactivity in LGBTQ is straightforward since it showcases shows that unravel the mysteries of

these sexual orientations. The perfect example is the "I am Kate" show featuring Jenner, a

transgender person. But is the effort quite enough to explain the identities linked to these sexual

orientations?

In research, Bond (2015) notes the challenges the young adolescents battling sexual

orientation issues face. Due to stigmatization, youths who are either lesbians, gays, trans, or

bisexuals have always resorted to alternate sources of information such as social media for

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answers. Bond (2015) also notes that the information sources these groups resort to have unclear

information defining their identities, thus placing them in a dilemma regarding what pertains to

having a different sexual orientation other than the heterosexual one advocated by society. Bond

writes that in portraying heterosexual content full time on the media, the gay community feels

marginalized for the lack of exposition to information involving them. The media's reclining on

one side poses threats to gays who get attacked by heterosexuals, for they see them as useless/

purposeless in society.

The challenge the LGBT groups face is the reluctance of mainstream producers in

Mental health is critical. The majority of mental health sufferers experience a change in

their identity since society tends to alienate or stigmatize them due to their conditions. The

media's role in broadcasting information, on the other hand, is significant, and we cannot snub its

contribution in educating the public about current happenings. The media provides entertainment

programs for its consumers and news/documentaries for further knowledge on world issues.

Nevertheless, in assessing the content posted mostly in terms of news/ documentary, it becomes

evident that some content threatens individuals' mental health. Uvais (2020) pinpoints the

adverse effects of news on individuals' mental health by recounting the story of a woman who

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followed the proceedings broadcasted on people affected by floods. The woman not only

developed phobia but also exhibited the post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

Healing of mental health disorders is challenging. Several interventions exist, yet they

only aid and not fully treat these disorders. Since complete recovery is not guaranteed, these

individuals' identity usually takes a shift, and without proper psychological and family support,

these individuals' lives get distorted. Even though censorships are involved in the content, the

media provides the public for consumptions; the levels still differ and may adversely cause a

permanent alteration in individuals' mental health, subsequently affecting their identity. Those

construction contributions due to social media. The majority of the world's people have sort

solace in Social Media, as Gündüz (2017) reports. One of the social media's benefits is that

people having doubts can quickly find answers by posting what plagues them. People contribute

variously by either agreeing, disagreeing or giving individual opinions, thus enhancing people's

perception of themselves. People fighting personality battles, sexuality stances, and esteem

issues also seek solace in social media. The mainstream media's inability to enhance personal

communications with people worldwide makes social media a vital platform for such business.

Gündüz (2017) also notes that social media is the platform that encourages very intense

interactions between individuals and the promotion of communication. What is even better is that

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social media permits communication between users unknown to each other yet provides the

support they need. What is even more encouraging is the chance of seeing content shared.

Manago (2015) writes on the contributions social media has on identity. According to

Manago (2015), most social media users in this age are the youths who seek independence from

parents by recreating a new form of "self." To achieve this, most join social media to gather tips

on manoeuvring as they grow into young adults/grown-ups. Through countless social

interactions, youths create new connections, which allows them to set forth the kind of identity

they would want to get associated with everywhere. Manago's study shows the vital role social

views about sexuality and gender. Social media also plays a significant role in helping the

minority create and disseminate information about discrimination and the minority's rights. The

platform also permits addressing views and fears about ethnicity, and even allows individuals to

draw support from their social media “ families.” Social media's contribution to improving the

self-worth of individuals is significant. Individuals, through social media, have regained self-

worth and even set standards that negotiated their public identity. The above are some of the

arguments that support acclaim social media as a contributing factor to identity construction.

Conclusion

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The media [inclusive of the mainstream media and social media alike] significantly shape

individuals' identities. The mainstream media, through television and film, broadcast content that

affects individuals. Some of the facets that media perpetuate include racial discrimination

through bias portrayal of the minority. The press also broadcasts content or adverts that are

gender-biased since they objectify women, therefore tainting women's true identity. On the same

note on gender, the media portrays women as weak, and for those who may have a disability, the

effects doubles, making them feel inferior. That is not all; the media continually comes up with

body image standards that alienate both men and women who may not reach the threshold.

of heterosexual supporters, social media, on the other hand, explicitly addresses the sexual

orientation issues, allowing all groups, including the LGBT's contribution. The press also gives

those struggling to build different identities the chance to explore, evaluate opinions, and decide

what they find fit to adopt. One significant aspect that media contribute towards identity

construction is the self-worth which social media allows one to establish. Adolescents, too, find

solace in social media, which helps them create a new identity as they grow towards adulthood.