Where are the poor, and what connotations does their representation convey?

As I previously mentioned in last week's introduction to the blog shift on analyzing how the poor are represented in media, when this social class isn't blatantly erased, they are portrayed in a very negative light. So where do the poor fit into our representation of the world in our media?

Low-income people are found most often in media on "reality" television shows, talk shows, or "reality-based crime shows", rather than having consistent roles in fictional programming. Unsurprisingly, their representations on either "real" or fake programming is overwhelming negative and derogatory. As for "reality" television shows, a perfect example is something along the lines of Judge Judy, Maury, or Divorce Court, programs that mainly feature the poor but only to shine a light on their unhealthy personal relationships, adultery, promiscuity, abundance of unwanted pregnancies, or their reliance on welfare programs (therefore perpetuating stereotypes such as "The Welfare Mother.) Of course, it goes without mention that these types of shows that are supposed to be a mirror image to real life (when in actuality they are extremely scripted and planned in order to achieve as much shock value as possible,) are inaccurate representations of the poor in general and present the false perception to consumers of media that this is the only way in which poor people are and it's the only way in which they go about their lives.

Something very similar can be said for talk shows (i.e Rickie Lake, Jerry Springer), where the poor are often part of the programming in very shallow ways, either in the audience or interviewed as people who are interested in material items or raunchy tabloid news. Again, this type of media creates the false notion that all people living in poverty cannot go beyond the scope of banal topics/entertainment.

As for reality based crime shows, they consistently reinforce the stereotype that most people involved with drugs are low-income men of color, when in actuality, in the U.S "the typical drug consumer or dealer is an employed, high-school educated European American man." And while it definitely can be argued that these crime shows (i.e Cops) are accurately presenting the disproportionately high amounts of drug related arrests of Black or Latino men in real life, they are still promoting a stereotype that is simply untrue.

All this negative representation culminates together into creating the most undesirable depiction of the poor. While these representations may be correct in showing one side of those who live in poverty, low-income people are just as multifaceted as any other social class. They have hopes, dreams, and many even hold true potential despite the financial troubles in their lives.

Personally, I think it says a lot about our civil society that we create such regimented, constricting roles for people in poverty in our media- how we as a whole are unwilling to be compassionate and empathetic for the majority of the poor that worked hard but was ultimately unable to find employment, and earn enough for what is considered a "desirable life."

SOURCES: Bullock, H., Wyche, K., & Williams, W. (n.d.). Media Images of the Poor. Journal of Social Issues, 57, 229-246. Retrieved from http://www.owr.ca/pdfs/MediaPoor.pdf