This document discusses the representation of social groups in media products like magazines. It begins by defining social groups and some common ways they can be categorized, such as age, gender, interests, etc. It then analyzes how teenagers are typically represented in magazines focused on pop music. Specifically, it notes that teenage girls are often portrayed wearing sexually suggestive clothing and posing in ways that promote unrealistic standards of beauty. However, the author decides to base their own magazine on a social group of teenage girls aged 13-18 of any ethnicity who enjoy socializing and music. They choose not to portray the artists in the magazine as overly sexual or flawless through techniques like airbrushing, but rather in a natural way that promotes self-acceptance.

1. How does your media product
represent particular social
groups?
Abigail Adesida | Media

2. A social group can be defined in various ways with different
interpretations; this is due to the grand scheme of things as
each group link together in some ways. However, these
groups can be broken apart by common similarities that are
shared between people such as likes, dislikes, interests,
hobbies, occupations, age, gender, religion and ethnicity.
SOCIAL GROUP

3. DOMINANT REPRESENTATION OF TEENAGERS
Sexually provocative clothing and colours;
- Red connotes temptation and lust
- Short dresses connote immaturity and recklessness
Flawless hair – hair blowing, despite no wind
or force occurring
- Connotes falseness and deception
- Encourages teenage girls to do so and
conveys the message that looking flawless
will provide ‘clothing’ and ‘popularity’
Just like the title of the
movie, teenage girls are stereotyped
to be ‘Clueless’; blonde girls are
stereotyped to be living up to the
‘dumb blonde’ stereotype and girls
that aren’t blonde are stereotyped to
be subordinate.

5. DOMINANT REPRESENTATION OF TEENAGERS
Snapbacks – connoting gangster-
like behaviour and immaturity
Excessive chains that are long in
length / gold chains
- Connoting imitation of hip-hop
artists such as Lil Wayne,
connoting loss of identity
Hoodies
- Connoting violence, dominance
and intimidation; many gangs
affiliated with violence often wear
hoodies

7. I decided to base my magazine on the social groups of age,
gender, ethnicity, interests and subcultures:
1. Age – 13-18. Popular music is stereotypically aimed at young
teenagers.
2. Gender – Female. The music genre ‘Pop’ is gendered and has
been predominantly female, hence why we only see females
buying music magazines and going to concerts that are
headlined by pop artists & pop stars etc.
3. Ethnicity – any ethnicity, but the ethnicity that is
stereotypically aimed at pop music is white, dominantly white
girls.
4. Interests – In the pop music genre, the interests of the social
group have been stereotyped as going out with friends,
socialising, having high expectations and going to parties and
concerts.
5. Subcultures – ‘Preppy’ subculture, most mostly the ‘Teeny
bopper’ subculture. The ‘Preppy’ is a subculture that is
predominantly adopted by the upper and middle class
teenagers; the ‘Teeny bopper’ subculture is a
young teenage girl who follows adolescent trends in music,
fashion and culture. They are also seen to be appearing
flawless, with flawless hair and skin.
SOCIAL GROUP OF POP MUSIC

8. I decided to base my magazine on the social groups of
age, gender, ethnicity, interests and subcultures:
1. Age – 13-18; these are the main ages that listen to pop
music
2. Gender – female. Pop music is gendered massively as a
female genre.
3. Ethnicity – all ethnicities: music applies to all.
4. Interests – socialising, aspirational, loves going
out, representing the music genre
5. Subculture: the Teeny bopper subculture; the Teeny
bopper subculture is when a girl shows an interest on
trends in music, fashion and culture. However, in my
magazine, I will not be presenting the artists as flawless
as this encourages young girls that flawless is beautiful
when ultimately, natural beauty conquers all.
SOCIAL GROUP OF MY MAGAZINE

9. SOCIAL GROUP OF MY MAGAZINE
The photos I used for my magazine present my social group as fun, outgoing and interesting.
The poses above conduct and connote energy; the colour of her clothing – beige and wine –
both connote elegance and clarity.

10. Age, Gender, Interests
• For my magazine, the age I decided to aim my magazine at is between the ages
of 13 and 18; which is the period of adolescence; in today’s society, teenagers,
especially those within the age range of 13 to 18, have been perceived and
stereotyped as lazy, inspirational and deviant
• Teenagers within this age range are often perceived as deviant and troublesome,
as well as not having a focus on education.
• Girls at this age are stereotyped to have a massive interest in make-up,
appearance and reputation.
• Based on gender, globally, pop music has been stereotypically categorized as a
female genre of music.
• Interests that would be associated with my social group include socialising, going
out with friends, going to concerts and reading.

11. My social group links to my magazine because the artist shown on the front cover
of my magazine is not posing in a sexually provocative way, neither is she heavily
made with make up or airbrushed – lighting hasn’t been applied also. However,
my magazine has female stereotyped colours such as pink and orange, both
connoting fragility and happiness. In the ‘We Love Pop’ magazine that has pop
artists Rihanna on the front cover, she is seen to be posing in ta very fun and
exciting gesture – thus connoting happiness and links to the genre of the music,
pop music. On the other hand, In Q’ magazine’s issue, featuring rock star Mick
Jagger, he is seen to be posing in a rebel-like gesture, thus linking to the type of
music he makes – rock music. Cher Lloyd, as seen in a double page spread in an
issue of ‘We Love Pop’s magazine, is posing in a very childish and immature,
living up to the female stereotype.

13. WHAT?
In many pop magazines, the artists, especially the women, are portrayed as
flawless, skinny people and this is a form of deception – airbrushing is largely
used to alter the features and appearance of women. However, in my magazine, I
did not alter the appearance or features the artists used in my magazine because
I aimed to create a realistic, natural view on women – breaking away from the
stereotype.

14. HOW?
In many pop magazines, lighting and make-up are both used to present the artists
and make them even more attractive than their normal state – false beauty is
presented, making the target audiences think of it as a norm of pop magazines.
Images, such as those taken in a close-up, connote temptation and popularity /
familiarity, connecting to the music genre.

15. WHY?
In my research, all of the women had been perceived, portrayed and presented
as perfect, especially with their appearance because they were heavily made up
and consistently air-brushed. However, there’s a backlash to that stereotypical
type of representation as I want my social group to look responsible and not be
represented in that way; I aim for my social group to be represented as
successful and ambitious.