Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

How does the media influence your perception of different cultures and groups?

I know that the media does affect how people view other cultures and groups, but I'd like to hear from people who actually have limited to no experience with other groups other than their own. How strongly does the media influence your perception of these groups?

Honest answers shall be greatly rewarded.

16 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    To be honest. I don't really get my opinion directed by what the media shows. e.g. the media would show an image of an anarexic girl and present her to the public as someone who was beutiful. girls would see this from an early age while they are of the age of easy influence and will suffer to try to attain what they see in media. many of these problems are things they would not and should not need to go through, but because their perception of beuty is altered by an industry. they ebcome unsure of themselves.

    The same goes for different cultures. my answer may not be what your looking for but, i got absolutely no problem with any other culture. they are all interesting. im a mix of quite a few different cultures and im thankful for that. i can understand from different viewpoints and i dont really have the mentality to just look at someone and make a judgement without knowing whats deeper. i know from what iv observed that its not a good idea to form an understanding based on what is seen in media. i prefer to figure my own things out. one of the things i find rather demeaning is how the media has brought about a definition of "acting white" and "acting black". is this really a good thing. people who are black do not want to "act white" by which the media portrays as getting an education. this is stupid, and white people do not want to "act black" by which means living out of a hood in general. all these media portrayals are what is the cause of so much racism and hurt amongst people. id rather not pay any attention to them. a race is not a behaviour. i behave my own way.

    i view other cultures of countries as interestign to me, but i take what i hear and try to find out the truth in it. the media just presents at image to me. im the one to make the judgement on what it is.

    Good luck and God Bless

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I grew up in Toronto and because of that I’ve been exposed to so many different cultural backgrounds that it would take some pretty heavy media influences for me to buy into any racial stereotype.

    That being said, before I visited the US myself I would say 70% of what I knew came from the media and consequently not all of my views were positive. It wasn’t completely unfounded though. I did come across a few characters that were sooo dead on (based on what I was used to seeing on tv) that I could’ve sworn they weren’t for real. Overall I try to remind myself that these are merely generalizations that do not apply to everyone.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I was raised amongst many different cultures in my neighborhood in California so the media had no real influence on my perception. Couple that with the fact that my parents did not let us sit on our behinds all day watching television. We actually played outside, imagine that.

    The media can be evil.

  • I don't believe anyone should use the media as an excuse to not expose themselves to other cultures or elasticities of people. There comes a time when you grow up and have to be responsible for your own actions and how you interact with other people. If you use the media as a scapegoat then you are incredibly ignorant.

    And if you choose to only associate with people with lower character calibur, then that's your own fault regardless of what race they are.

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    This is an excellent question.

    People who live in isolated, homogenous areas (like say rural farmers) - the only exposure they might have to the outside world is through their TV's or print media. How they see other groups may become very shaped by what the media puts forth. And unfortunately, that often includes negative stereotypes - like if they constantly see blacks as criminals

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    It exposes me to different cultures, in mainly a good way, making me want to learn about different cultures. But the media is a very ignorant group of reblicans that just want promote negative stereotypes about blacks and other minorites.

    Source(s): the media's one f up group, look at sydney and katy they are retarted subjects of the media's ignorant, and negitive influence.
  • 1 decade ago

    i dont allow the media to influence my perception of culure. i like to learn about culture, but i have heard the many misconceptions about african american females and i know that i do not reflect it. so i assume others deserve that same benefit of the doubt. there are some beautiful people (outside and in) and they come in different colors and form different cultures. i have not met many europeans but i dont believe they all fit these negative stereotypes.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Can I answer anyway? Thanks Qwerty! I'm the opposite of what you're looking for the answer this question; I've grown up with so many different cultures. So to me, I think the media tries to have more "color" in the mainstream, however its not genuine real life material. Its the white perspective of how people of color assimilate to American culture (look at ads in a magazine). In a nutshell, media makes you more ignorant.

  • 1 decade ago

    you can tell monk answers a lot of his own questions.person above me.81% best answer.

    the media dosnt affect on how people treat people.its what they have experienced first hand

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    have to agree with katy and sydney.once you get shot at once and tried too rob you a second time.your mind is made up about that race from previous non encounters and their actions.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.