Minorities in the Media: The problem of underrepresentation
The media consumes our everyday lives. From the moment we wake to the moment we sleep, we are surrounded by a cacophony of opinions, expressed through television programmes, social media, and the communications industry. These opinions influence our very own beliefs, morals, and values. Therefore, representation in the media is imperative for creating an inclusive world.
Our 21st century society is the most diverse it has ever been, accommodating people of many ethnic and religious groups, and communities with various cultural backgrounds. However, we lack a sense of inclusivity. Instead of identifying the communities which make up a significant amount of the population, we exclude them from all significant aspects of the media, which in turn leads to the consequences of underrepresentation and further exacerbates our biased society.
One key example of this disenfranchisement is the exclusion of women. Women account for almost 50% of the global population yet they are ostracised from key sources of media. A shocking 2025 report exposed that women consolidate only 26% of news sources and subjects which subsequently has led to a lack of reports on gender-based violence and stories which challenge gender stereotypes. Furthermore, this statistic suggests the struggle women have getting a job in the media and reveals that sexism is still prevalent in today’s society. Young girls are affected first hand, as they have little female role models to aspire to be like, diminishing their ambitions by the constant portrayal of men in positions of authority. For instance, only 26.7% of DC characters are female, implying that physical strength and mental ability is more present in men, subconsciously indoctrinating the audience with these beliefs. However, this is not a problem unique to DC, this is a worldwide problem.
Moreover, the lack of inclusion for people of colour. Racism is common in the media; though it is disguised. Disguised through the lack of representation and diversity; with a 2021 survey of 100 news outlets stating that only 15% of the top 80 editors were non-white. Not only is this a problem throughout media-related careers but it is also a poignant point of discussion in UK Television. A lack of diversity in this aspect of the media specifically affects these ethnic minority groups directly, causing them to feel alone and unseen. By not representing these communities, there is the absence of opportunity to spread awareness of the racism they most likely have experienced by others and a missed chance to highlight their cultures and traditions to the rest of the nation.
These are only two of many minorities who are ignored and underrepresented within aspects of the media. We need to strive for change, growth, and progression, to craft the media to be a place of diversity and inclusion, recognising important members of our society and in turn, positively impacting the opinions and values of our nation.
Niamh O’Donnell
Sources:
https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/blog/race-and-ethnicity-representation-in-the-media/
https://nhcje.org/blog/a-lack-of-representation-in-the-media-and-its-effects-on-biases-and-behaviors
