Dutton Steele 4/21/14 Comm 2360 The Negative Portrayal of Minority Groups in Reality TV In recent years, the growing

popularity and social relevance of reality television programs have changed not only the way in which Americans entertain themselves but also the way in which Americans view and interpret various subcultures. As reality television producers continue to intrigue their viewers with unorthodox situational and social dynamics within the cast and premise of their reality shows, they create and reinforce stereotypes held about certain groups as the characters in the reality shows begin to represent their racial, cultural, or religious affiliations instead of themselves as individuals. In many cases, whether intentional or unintentionally, the building of these stereotypes often hurts minority groups by labeling them as outside the norms of popular or acceptable culture. Often women, Hispanic Americans, Appalachian Americans, African Americans, as well as other subcultures, genders, ethnic groups that make up the cultural minority, are exploited for their differences as television producers choose to portray negative stereotypes about them. Unfortunately, these negative stereotypes are often the only representation of these minority groups in the mass media. Consequentially, reality televisions false portrayal of its characters based on negative stereotypes creates harmful presumptions about the cultural minority that effectively resonate in the minds of the millions of people who view reality television shows. Angela Cooke-Jackson and Elizabeth K. Hansens publication Appalachian Culture and Reality TV: The Ethical Dilemma of Stereotyping Others explores the exploitation of Appalachian Americans through their portrayal in the media. Cooke-Jackson and Hansen explore the negative response to CBS attempt to make a reality television show called The Real Beverly Hillbillies that would feature a poor, multigenerational, uneducated, Appalachian American family moving to a mansion in Beverly Hills who

must quickly try to adapt to a materialistic, socially sophisticated Southern California lifestyle. The idea for the show was to capitalize on the success of the once popular show The Beverly Hillbillies. However, Cooke-Jackson and Hansen explain that by casting real people who fit the profile of the stereotypical characteristics of someone who lives in the rural areas of the Appalachians, viewers will not interpret these stereotypes as loose, satirical portrayals of Appalachians but instead accurate portrayals of their failure to exist in sophisticated culture. The portrayal of these stereotypes harm Appalachian Americans by portraying them as uneducated, poor, inbred, and unable to integrate into normal society. CookeJackson and Hansen explain the internal damage that the negative stereotypes portrayed in the media can have on a minority group: When groups internalize negative stereotypes, it becomes difficult for members of the subculture to value themselves or the unique aspects of their culture (186). When a minority group is exploited for long enough by the media through use of negative stereotypes, they begin to lose their sense of pride and culture. Consequentially, this can result in the complete loss of their cultural identity and the acceptance of negative stereotypes in defining ones self-image or of an entire minority culture as a whole. Cooke-Jackson and Hansens Appalachian Culture and Reality TV: The Ethical Dilemma of Stereotyping Others explores the aspects of stereotyping as well as the detrimental effects that the use of stereotypes in reality television shows can have on minority groups. Allison Jorissens study on The Effect of Thinness Promoting Reality TV Shows on Being At-Risk for an Eating Disorder displays another aspect of how portrayals of negative stereotypes harm minority groups by examining the correlation between females who watch thinness promoting reality television shows and their risk for eating disorders. The increasing prevalence of reality shows which promote or depict thinness in women such as The Biggest Loser, Americas Next Top Model, and The Bachelor have created a new standard of how thin a desirable women should look. In order to see if the increasing prevalence of reality television shows that promote thinness in women had any correlation to the growing proportion of adolescent females suffering from eating disorders, Jorissen surveyed a group of

females who were similar in age, education, and BMI by giving them a SCANS (Setting Conditions for Anorexia Nervosa Scale) test in order to assess their risk for developing an eating disorder as well as surveying the types of reality shows that they watch as well as the amount of hours they spent weekly watching them. After completing her research, Jorissen concluded that: the at-risk group did watch more thinness-promoting reality TV shows and the at-risk group did watch them more frequently than the non-at-risk group (166). Jorissens research suggests that reality television shows such as The Bachelor, The Biggest Loser, and Americas Next Top Models unreasonable standard of thinness creates a harmful stereotype of how normal women should look in order to be desirable in society. Consequentially, this stereotype creates an unrealistic expectation of how females should look, thus possibly contributing to the increase of eating disorders in young women. Therefore, the misrepresentation of women in reality television shows as being absurdly thin has a detrimental effect on young womens self-images and gives them a negative portrayal in society. Siobhan Smiths And Still more Drama!: A comparison of the Portrayals of African-American Women and African-American Men on BETs College Hill examines the negative portrayal of African American women on one of BETs most successful reality television programs. Smith explains how the women of the show had been chosen based on their similarities to well-known stereotypes of black women such as The Diva, The Mammy, The Jezebel, and other stereotypical portrayals that belittle African American women. In order test whether African American women were being portrayed negatively on College Hill, Smiths study examined every episode of the program while studying each contestants behaviors in consideration with traits that characteristically differentiate men and women. Smiths results were as followed: "African American Women were portrayed more negatively than African American men on CH (College Hill). For example, out of the seven traits that reveal significant differences between men and women, it was found that men were portrayed significantly more positively than women and women were portrayed significantly more negatively than men (44). Smith

goes on to explain that these portrayals originate from the stereotype of African American males being dominant over African American females. Therefore, the negative stereotypes about African American women portrayed by the reality television series College Hill not only reinforce ignorance among its viewers but also spread false presumptions about African American women. As American culture continues to move in the direction of progressivism, reality televisions false representations of racial stereotypes continues to hinder societal tolerance. Mark Orbes Representation of Race in Reality TV not only explains the appeal and growth of reality television in American culture but also warns his readers of the dangers that come with promoting racial stereotypes on television and trying to advertise it as real life. Orbe argues: In fact, some scholars argue that the inclusion of reality-based programming has strengthened such stereotypical portrayals given that such images are more real than others. Some scholars, like Kraszewski (2004), suggest the reality TV relegates racism in problematic ways (350). Orbe further credits his argument by providing his reader with examples of the negative portrayals of African American men as dangerous and aggressive on MTVs The Real World. Ironically enough, MTVs television program has been carefully thought out in order to manipulate and create tension among contestants in order to make the show seem more interesting thus challenging its authenticity. Reality television programs false manufacturing of reality only further strengthens the negative racial stereotypes presented in programs such as MTVs The Real World. Orbe warns his readers to be weary of the process in which producers manipulate situations, characters, and film footage so that they may not be so blind as to believe the negative way in which minority groups are portrayed. In conclusion, as reality television programs continue to have a significant influence in popular culture, negative stereotypes pertaining to minority groups continue to harm those whom they represent. Until the American public is educated on the deceptive tactics of television producers,

cultural minorities will continue to suffer from misrepresentation. While those who continue to wallow in ignorance perceive reality television as real, the actual reality is that the influence of negative stereotypes in reality television continues to diminish the sociological and intellectual integrity of its viewers.