Title: Where Am I? How A Lack Of Representation In Media Is Harmful To College Students | Her Campus
Headings: Where Am I? How A Lack Of Representation In Media Is Harmful To College Students
Where Am I? How A Lack Of Representation In Media Is Harmful To College Students
Sunahtah Jones (USF)
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Content: For example, the film Exodus: Gods and Kings, with famous actor Christian Bale, which was released in 2014, cause extreme controversy because of its lack of representation. Although the movie was based on a biblical story based in Egypt, Africa, majority of the characters were white. All too often, stories derived from people of color are white washed in the media, this is harmful because it erases the culture and contributions of people of color, while also taking away opportunities from actors and actresses of color who can illustrate the history accurately. In addition to the lack of representation of minorities, the lack of representation of disabled people and the LGBTQ community is equally harmful. Similarly, disabled people and the LGBTQ community are more than often placed in roles that perpetuate stereotypes related to their identity. Only 1% of television series include representation of disabled people (Sagaftra.org), while the LGBTQ community is just as unrepresented, and mostly represented in a negative light in the media (glad.org). How does this have a large impact on college students? Firstly, we are the future of our nations. If we’re constantly consuming information that contains oppressive ideologies, stereotypes, and lack of representation;