Privilege in Media

Think about the different groups that you belong to. (Nationality, race, language, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, Indigenous status, and so on.) Pick one and sort these statements according to whether they are true or false for that group.

I can look at the media and see people from my group widely represented as heroes, role models, leaders, news anchors, television hosts and experts.

When members of my group appear in media, it is not always as villains, victims, clowns or freaks.

I can expect to see people from my group in books, textbooks and other school material.

I can expect to see my group widely represented in all levels of media production (writing, producing, acting, directing, etc.).

I can turn on the TV or a streaming service and have a good chance of seeing members of my group without looking for them.

A character may be a member of my group and have it never be remarked upon or be a part of their storyline.

Characters in media that are members of my group aren’t expected to represent the entire group.

The revelation that a character is a member of my group is never a cause for shock or used as the butt of a joke.

When a character in media is a member of my group, they are usually played by an actor who is a member of my group.

I can easily buy posters, movies, television shows, video games and other merchandise featuring people from my group.

It is easy to find video games where I can play a character who is a member of my group.

Ads that are not aimed at any particular audience feature members of my group.

If a media work featuring members of my group is a commercial failure, nobody says it is because my group was featured.

An image search for a neutral term, such as “doctor” or “family,” will result in at least some images of my group.