The document discusses the binary structure in media studies, where opposites are paired with one group having more power. It analyzes how different attributes are portrayed in binaries, with the group with less power seen as weak or outcast. These include youth vs professionals by age, women vs men by gender, ethnic minorities vs white people by race, lower class vs upper class by class, homosexuals vs heterosexuals by sexuality, and rural vs urban people by region. In each case, the group with less power is portrayed more negatively.

1. MEDIA STUDIES
THE BINARY STRUCTURE
Binary structure is the structure in which opposites are paired and
one group has more power than the other, the group lower in the
binary structure is portrayed as weak, outcast in society.

2. AGE

3. In the binary structure, Age is a part of the structure and the first part of Age I am looking at is
YOUTH.
For example, today, the youth are seen as trouble makers,
violent, in experienced and pointless members of society.
This is seen anywhere we go.
On the bus, a group of school students swearing and
shouting out loud, showing that they do not care about other
citizens on the bus, leading them to also be over generalized.
AGE: YOUTH

4. In media, the elderly are the ones with less power, like the youth, they have ultra-conversations in
movies, and are not like the professionals.
In the media, sometimes the elderly are portrayed as to being grumpy and
rude, sometimes this could lead to stereotyping them as grumpy,
old people, but in reality most of the elderly are the complete opposite of that.
The professionals that are seen everywhere and in movies, and these professionals are aged between
25 to 40 year olds, these "professionals" are the ones
that mainly hold power in movies.
They are seen as smart, educated, well mannered adults
compared to the youth who are the opposite of these things.
AGE

5. GENDER

6. In media, women and men are both sexual objectified.
women are made to look innocent, child-like, small, vulnerable,
can't look the audience in the eye and weak. In movies some
women are also made to do house cleaning and obey the
instruction of men.
BUT men are made to look strong, powerful, adult like and is not vulnerable and can look at the
audience in the eye. Men are usually the ‘Hard man’, who are there to save the women from harm as
they are portrayed as weak.
GENDER

7. RACE

8. In the Binary structure of race white British or Americans have the most power and ethnic minorities
such as Black Africans don't have.
Characteristics played by white ethnicities:
- Cooperate business owners
- Well educated
- Stick with their own
- Rich
- Polite
Characteristics played by ethnic minorities:
- Anti-social behavior (drugs, violence)
- have lowly ranked jobs
- Unable to keep a job
- Complain about inabilities to climb the social ladder
RACE

9. CLASS

10. In the binary structure of class the upper rich class have the most power whereas the lower and middle
class are controlled by the upper class.
Characteristics of upper class:
- Stick with their own (maintain employee, employer relationship)
- Seen as educated but aren't necessarily
- Children are spoilt
Characteristics of lower classes:
- Anti-social
- Uneducated
- Bad parents
- Hustling
CLASS

11. SEXUALITY

12. Sexuality is represented in different ways in Media.
The Media tries to represent heterosexuals in a positive light and homosexuals in a negative light.
How heterosexuals are presented:
- Respected
- In committed relationships
- Stable jobs
How homosexuals are presented:
- Promiscuous
- Hospitality jobs
- Hedonistic
SEXUALITY

13. REGION

14. In Media, people who live in the city are more powerful in the binary structure of region whereas,
people living in the country are considered inferior.
People living in urban areas:
-Rich
- Intelligent
- Smartly dressed
- Important jobs (CEOs)
People living in rural areas:
- Naïve
- Poor
- Uneducated
- Menial jobs
REGION