This document discusses representation and stereotypes across various social categories such as gender, age, ethnicity, sexuality, class, ability, and region. It provides examples of how each of these groups are commonly represented in media as well as examples of common stereotypes associated with each group. Some of the key representations and stereotypes mentioned include men and women often being portrayed in masculine and feminine ways, certain ages being associated with certain behaviors or appearances, and ethnic groups being ascribed simplistic or misleading characteristics.

1. Representation and stereotypes
Amelia Barrett, Demi Wrenn, Stephanie Web

2. What is representation?
Representation is the description or portrayal of someone or
something in a certain way.
Representation is the action of speaking or acting on behalf
of someone or the state of being so represented.

3. Representation in gender
Representation in gender is how a man or a women is
presented in the media.
The media present men and women in a masculine (strong,
tough, aggressive) and feminine (sensitive, caring, gentle)
outlook.

4. Representation in age
Age is the length of time that a person
has lived or a thing has existed.
Age is represented through:
 Babies (0-2),
 Toddlers (2-5),
 Infants (5-8),
 Children (8-13),
 Teenagers (13-18),
 Young adults (18-25),
 Adults (25-60),
 OAP’s (old age pensioners) (60+).

5. Representation in ethnicity
Ethnicity is a fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common
notational or cultural tradition
Ethnicity is represented through:
 English/northern Irish/welsh/Scottish/British
 Gyspsy/ traveller
 White and Black Caribbean
 White and Black African
 White and Asian
 Indian
 Pakistani
 Bangladeshi
 African
 Caribbean
 Arab

6. Representation in sexuality
Representation in gender is how a man or a women is
presented in the media.
The media present men and women in a masculine
(strong, tough, aggressive) and feminine (sensitive,
caring, gentle) outlook.

7. Representation in class and status
Class and Status is being catorigised for your
wealth and your way of living. This is
represented through:
MIDDLE CLASS -The
middle class are the
most contested of the
three
categorizations, the
broad group of people
in contemporary
society who fall
between the lower
class and upper class
UPPER CLASS - The
upper class is the
social class
composed of those
who are wealthy,
well-born, or both.
LOWER CLASS - Lower class
(occasionally described as
working class) are those
employed in low-paying
wage jobs with very little
economic security.

8. Representation in physical ability/disability
Disability is the consequence of an impairment that may be physical. A
disability may be present from birth, or occur during a person's lifetime.
physical ability/disability is represented through:
 Autism
 hearing loss/deafness
 Learning disability
 Dyslexic
 memory loss
 Chronic illness

9. Representation in regional identity
 The definition of sexuality is a person's sexual
orientation or preference. It can be represented
through:
 Heterosexual (straight) – Sexually attracted to
persons of the opposite sex .
 Homosexual (gay) – Sexually attracted to
persons of the same sex.
 Bisexual – Sexually attracted to persons of both
sex.

10. What is Stereo typing
A stereotype is a common word that means an act of
assumption over a group of people or individual that’s
might not be true.

11. Stereotypes in Gender
Female Stereotypes
 Wearing the color pink,
 Cooking the dinner and cleaning,
 Being defenseless,
 Having sensitive emotions,
 Passive and submissive,
 Most nurses and secretaries being
women,
 Caring for the children,
 To look small and graceful
Male Stereotypes
• Self confident and aggressive,
• Be able to manage the household
repairs,
• Most doctors and construction
workers being men
• To be tall and broad shouldered,
• Are tough in the sense of fighting
and looking after the family.

12. Stereotypes in Age
Children- loud, spoilt, brats, easily amused, attention seeking, over
confident.
Teens- selfish, lazy, aggogrant, judgmental, drinkers, smokers, tantrums, lack
of enthusiasm.
Adults- mature, independent, work orientated, wise, stern, caring, looks
down on teens.
OAP’S- wise, vulnerable, weak, forgetful, grey haired, wrinkly, quite, short,
hunched over

13. Stereotypes in Ethnicity
Stereotypes in ethnicity are simplified and are often misleading
representation of an ethnic group composed of what are thought to
be typical characteristics. Examples of stereotypes in ethnicity include:
• Scottish – All ginger, eat haggis, wear kilts, play bagpipes, eat
porridge.
• English – Drink tea, very punctual, bad teeth.
• Gypsies – Swindlers (trick people), rude, uneducated.
• Africans – uneducated, all in tribes, good at spear–throwing, hunt
lions.
• Indians – Uneducated, poor, rude.
• White and Black Caribbean – smoke weed, aggressive, abusive,
uncivilized.
• Pakistani - terrorists, dirty, deceiving.

14. Stereotypes in sexuality
Heterosexual (straight) – Sexually attracted to persons of the opposite sex.
Homosexual (gay/lesbian) – Sexually attracted to persons of the same sex.
Bisexual – Sexually attracted to persons of both sex.
The stereotypical gay male will
have:
• Over exaggerated gestures,
• Feminized clothes,
• Wont like sport,
• Sensitive emotions,
• Wear pink
The stereotypical lesbian female
will have:
• Masculine features,
• Masculine stance,
• Tattoos and piercings.
The stereotypical straight person
the majority of a group.
The word ‘gay; is over used in society as
people use it when offending someone.

15. Stereotypes in class and status
 Working class- hard workers, low wages, physically
demanding, fair, family orientated
 Upper class- posh people, high earners,
businessman/women, rich, snobby, hunting, live in
mansions, have domestics
 Middle class- mangers, teachers, play golf, drink wine, go
shooting

16. Stereotypes in physical ability/disability
Physical ability is the ability to perform a physical act without
problem.
Stereotypes of physical ability include – strong, large
muscles, heroes.
Disability is being unable to perform as a consequence of a
mental illness.
Stereotypes of people with disabilities –
slow, handicapped, abnormal, unable to communicate
clearly, freaks, sick, incapable

17. Stereotypes in regional identity
 ESSEX – spray tans, use a lot of slang, drag
there words out, go out clubbing, drink a
lot of alcohol, wear high heels often.
 GEORDIE/NEWCASTLE - spray tans, use a
lot of slang, go out clubbing, drink a lot of
alcohol, wear high heels often.
 CHELSEA – snobby, posh, visit posh
clubs, judgmental, nosey, classy
 SCOTTISH –ginger hair, wear a kilt, rough
accent, drink a lot.