Stereotypes/ anti-stereotypes research

David Gauntlett
Identity theory Judith Butler
Gender performative

6 theorists
associated Stuart Hall
Liesbet Van Zoonen
with media Representation theory
Feminism and patriarchy
representation

Bell hooks Paul Gilroy

Feminism, ethnicity and Ethnicity and post-
gender colonial theory
 Glossary

Stereotype
Is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

Anti-stereotype
Also known as a counterstereotype is an idea or object that goes against a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members
of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment.

Misrepresentation
The action or offence of giving a false or misleading account of the nature of something.

Under representation
Insufficient or disproportionately low representation. 

Realism:
The techniques by which a media text represents ideas and images that are held to have a true relationship with the actual world around us.

Realism means different things in different texts– realism in animation (e.g. the movement of single hairs in computer animation)means
something entirely different to realism in soap opera (e.g. the depiction of people eating breakfast and talking with their mouths full).

It is important to assess how much a text strives for realism, how much audiences are expected to think it is realistic.
3 statements identifying stereotypes concerning class:

• The upper class are rude/snobby and look down and exploit others who are in a lower class than them
• The middle class have medium sized homes, often owned
• The working class do manual work and live in rented properties.

3 statements identifying anti-stereotypes concerning class:

• A very nice and generous rich man.

• A middle-class person who dropped out of education.
• A lower-class person who is sociable.

Ideas and examples of misrepresentation and under-representation in newspapers :

1 2 3 4
In the Daily Mail (1) there is a negative representation of people
who emigrate or migrate to the UK and are being misrepresented.
(2) As the Daily Mail is conservative and more right-wing they look
at their opposition of the labor party and misrepresent them as
They claim 3 labor party members are ‘apologists for terror’. For
The Sun there is a misrepresentation of Muslims in general. On the
Teen Vogue magazine there is a under representation of anyone who isn't white so everyone in an ethnic minority group.
3 examples of anti-stereotypes

• Noel Clarke – Is a successful black British working-class actor, writer and director. He has been in a lot of films and
directed many. Such as kidulthood and adulthood were two films he wrote, starred and directed.
• An attractive woman impressing a man with her knowledge of automotive engineering.
• A young male wearing makeup.

How will I construct representations

For my issue about first jobs, I chose to use a female model to construct representation. This will contrast with my
second issue as there will be a difference in gender. Females are under-represented in a scientific, manual labor,
‘hands on’ type of workplaces. I want to show how the amount of job areas aren’t limited and how ‘the world is your
oyster’ and how it is achievable to work in any environment you set yourself.

For my issue about moving out of home I will use a male model to counter the stereotype of men being less likely to
move out of their parents' home. I will construct a representation that show show men are just as capable as women
to move out of home.

Will I use stereotypes, anti-stereotypes, misrepresented or under-represented groups in my productions ?

There will be a representation of a stereotype but with a twist I want to modernize my magazine and how it will
represent people. I want to challenge stereotypes.
 3% less likely to
13% less When looking at send a woman an
likely to female and male InMail after
viewing her profile working-class men most likely to
click on a candidates on leave home the latest.
woman's LinkedIn, recruiters
profile are…
when she
shows up in Issue 2
Ideas for
search Issue 1 Moving out of
representation
First jobs home
for my own
production
Women are more selective (or
hesitant) when applying
Want to encourage People are living at home
more men to leave longer, says a new report. But
Women are 16% less early men are 50% more likely than
Woman apply women to be living with mum
likely than men to
to 20% fewer and dad between the ages of
apply to a job after
jobs than men 20 to 24
viewing it