Dominant Ideology in the Media

I think one of the biggest issues we see in today's media in terms of the SCWAMP framework is being able-bodied; it is not often that people with disabilities are portrayed, and when they are, its usually that they are blind, deaf, maybe even wheelchair confined, etc. When the media does show them, it will usually be a small role, or they're only on a show as a guest or short period of time. And we, as an able-bodied society, don't see anything wrong with this. 1 in 4 people in the United States are disabled, and it is because of the social cognitive theory that we think the amount of representation happening is an appropriate amount. We are taught that disabled people are not the norm, and in return, they oftentimes go unseen or seen in a bad light. Social expectations also cause us to see disabled people differently because people think that because they are disabled they are less than others, limiting them with harmful stereotypes when in actuality they are regular people with feelings and emotions.

Dominant ideology creates a false consciousness in Americans much like the one I mentioned above with how disabled people are treated and represented. Entertainment media often reinforces racial and ethnic stereotypes as well, which can contribute to prejudice and discrimination. For example, black characters are often portrayed as criminals or athletes, while Asian characters are often portrayed as nerdy or socially awkward. Another example is consumerism, making us believe that material possessions will make us more desirable or preferred than people who do not have these belongings.

    Lastly, I want to talk about hegemonic masculinity and how it affects society. Taylor Swift's song “The Man” immediately comes to mind; My favorite lyrics that truly represent what hegemonic masculinity is, are, “If I was out flashing my dollars i’d be a bitch not a baller.”. Men are always seen as the men in powerful positions and bringing home the bacon. One of the many ways we can help combat this is to dismantle the idea that boys and men cannot express vulnerability. In turn, men bottle
emotions up, which can lead to mental health issues. If the media portrayed more straight men as vulnerable, we could help end hegemonic masculinity.