SOCIAL INEQUALITY

Social Inequality in Media and Popular Culture

Social Inequality in Media and Popular Culture

Introduction

The study is related to media and popular culture which is being discussed in context of social inequality. The purpose of the study is to identify the factors that are promoting the social inequality, which is considered as one of the key aspect of the culture. The study focuses on the social inequality that include gender, class, ethnicity, race or sexuality which in media or popular culture, as this phenomena is important to study as it guides towards in having clear understanding about the culture that include media or popular culture.

Thesis Statement

“Media and popular culture representations promote and perpetuate the social inequality.”

Discussion

In today's modern society, there is a concept of social inequality which is no longer a rarity. It has its origins very early in history and also in the present world. Social inequality is a social construction, which is always defined by two characteristics; on the one side are those who are socially disadvantaged in any manner and on the other hand, take the advantage of that handicap which also particularly includes the issues like class, gender, race, ethnicity and sexuality. Examples of social inequality include the educational inequality, income inequality, gender inequality or inequality of working conditions and health opportunities (Friedman, 1992, 194-210). The list could go on any as social inequality is found in all sectors of society that also entails media or popular culture which affect the cultural presentation in society.

The aim of this study is to answer the following question that is: Do media and popular culture representations promote and perpetuate the social inequality? that is, it should be investigated, such as media and popular culture reflect social inequality and to give as a real phenomenon of culture in society.

Focusing in the concept of social inequality and formulate conceptually framework, it includes the elements that constantly monitor this phenomenon and its variants spread communicative. These systems or elements particularly comprise of media or popular culture which affect the cultural presentation. The popular culture or media mass media that include press, radio and television and also the Internet has become increasingly important (Hall, 1992, 274-316). Popular culture or media to inform the members of society about economic, environmental, political and social contexts and processes and contributes to culture presentations of society that all members has the same state of knowledge about a particular issue (Menashi, 2002, 8-9).

The concept of social inequality is a key feature of our social structure, where there may be differences in appearance and scale in relation to class, gender, race, ethnicity or sexuality. Social inequality which is also called as living conditions that permit people to reach into their everyday activities generally shared goals of a “good life” better than other people. For case in point, these conditions include working conditions, assets or level of education of a person which usually under class, gender, race, ethnicity or sexuality. In relation to media and popular culture, under a good life, ...