It is evident in almost all organizations today. “Forms of social inequality include gender inequality, racial inequality and even caste inequality” (Dines & Humez 24). This concept paper will examine media patterns in relation to social inequality. The media sector has evolved and broadened in all continents, with regard to both the job sector and media content.
Some of the common kinds of media analysis entail assessment of “media content for the information it relays concerning race, sex, social class, and other matters of social marginalization” (van Dijk 52). The media is observed to focus on irrelevant things, while disregarding material that pertains to social diversity that is central in our communities.
In doing so, the media “presents images that are consistent with stereotypes and the dominant ideological portrayal of society” (van Dijk 52). This is done at the cost of people who have been historically marginalized in society, including women, people of colour and the poor. Social inequality refers to circumstances where people in a community lack the same social standing.
One of the key issues in the examination of media content looks at the trends assumed by unfairness leading to bias. An example of bias in the media can be illustrated by observing the ratio of men to women in society, and placing that ratio to the available job opportunities in the media. A ratio of 1:1, implying an equal number of both men and women in society, should be reflected in the work place.
But if there are more men than women, then the trend of gender favouritism is said to be against women. “The significance of media content will be examined as a reflection of: media producers and their ideologies; audience preferences and desires; social norms, belief and values; and its influence on audiences and the society in general” (Dines & Humez 25).
The books ‘Gender, Race and Class in Media’ by Gail Dines and Jean McMahon Humez and ‘The Network Society: Social Aspects of New Media’ By Jan van Dijk contain relevant information concerning cultural studies, by examining the role of the media in perpetrating common stereotypes of historically marginalized people.
The books provide relevant information concerning analysis of advertising, music, sexual representation and TV. The book ‘Media Society: Industries, Images, and Audiences’ by David Croteau, William Hoynes and Page covers the topic ‘Social Inequality and Media Representation’, which is explained in details analyzing the media in the current society.
An example of a concept involving social inequality in the media is the trend of hiring people for jobs they do not deserve by favoring them for various reasons like their gender or race. Inequality in the media is a big issue, where job opportunities matter, as it denies qualified candidates a chance to get a deserving job in the media industry.
An example in the television sector is whereby stations may refuse to hire people of different race as their managers. Another example is where women are given roles of promoting kitchenware or washing machines in television advertisements while men get advertisements that portray them as successful professionals (Dines & Humez 27).
Social inequality is an issue that we must try to do away with in order to progress in this industry. Sometimes discrimination against certain gender or race may lead to companies losing out on efficient workers and leaders. Although these norms have declined bringing changes in the media industry, concealed racism and gender inequality are still evident in the media. It will take much effort to control social disparity in the society (Dines & Humez 29).
Works Cited
Dines, Gail, and Jean M. Humez. Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications, 2002. Print.
Van Dijk, Jan. The Network Society: Social Aspects of New Media. SAGE Publications: Thousand Oaks, California, 1999. Print.