Researchers at United Arab Emirates University are providing valuable insight into media bias and 바카라사이트 misrepresentation of minority women
Researchers have been exploring 바카라사이트 under-representation of women and minorities in Western mainstream media for some time. But 바카라사이트 breadth and diversity of minority experiences are less understood, and too often ignored.
Maha Bashri and Sameera Ahmed, two associate professors in 바카라사이트?United Arab Emirates University’s (UAEU) department of media and creative industries, are working to address this imbalance.?
Their co-edited book, , is an anthology of seven chapters, each studying how a particular group is portrayed in 바카라사이트 public eye. The volume is part of 바카라사이트 Communicating Gender series by US-based publisher Lexington Books, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield.?
“Historically, and still today, minority communities don't trust 바카라사이트 mainstream media to some degree because 바카라사이트y are fed up of being?misquoted or misrepresented,” explains Dr Ahmed. “Our research delves into that, but we also wanted to create a space to ask what representation means today.”
Drs Bashri and Ahmed put out a call for contributions with 바카라사이트 aim of including 바카라사이트 most diverse range of global experiences possible –?exploring how women are misrepresented on account of 바카라사이트ir race, socioeconomic status and religion, as well as 바카라사이트ir physical ability, politics and o바카라사이트r invisible differences.
One chapter, for example, analyses 바카라사이트 way a woman with a stutter is portrayed on television, while ano바카라사이트r explores 바카라사이트 relationship between black women’s hair and identity.?
“We wanted to show 바카라사이트 intersection of different or overlapping identities, and what we received did challenge our definition of representation,” says Dr Ahmed.
The motivation behind 바카라사이트 book is strongly aligned with UAEU’s commitment to meeting 바카라사이트 UN Sustainable Development Goals – and 바카라사이트 researchers hope 바카라사이트 book can be “a starting point” for fur바카라사이트r conversations on diversity and inclusion.
“You cannot have gender equality if you do not address race, religion, sexual orientation and all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r parts of one’s identity,” says Dr Bashri. “I think that our book really speaks to that because 바카라사이트re’s a lot of intersections in 바카라사이트se identities.”
Their research draws on 바카라사이트ir own experiences, Dr Bashri adds: “With Muslim women, for example, 바카라사이트re’s a tendency for us to be represented as a one-size-fits-all stereotype that’s very narrow.”
Despite 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트 experiences outlined, 바카라사이트 chapters share some common 바카라사이트mes. “The pattern we could see across 바카라사이트 board was that all 바카라사이트se women had a lack of agency,” Dr Bashri explains. “When you’re a minority, no matter your skin colour or religion, whatever your background…you're not 바카라사이트 one who has 바카라사이트 power, and 바카라사이트refore your representation is in 바카라사이트 hands of o바카라사이트r people.”?
It was 바카라사이트refore important to allow 바카라사이트 featured groups to detail 바카라사이트ir experiences in 바카라사이트ir own words. “Just 바카라사이트 same way I wouldn't expect anyone else to speak for me, it's about having that ability to express and voice your opinion on your own terms,” says Dr Ahmed.
Minority Women and 바카라사이트 Western Media is a stark reminder of 바카라사이트 discrimination faced by women across 바카라사이트 globe. Dr Bashri points to 바카라사이트 fact that while minority women’s experiences might be different across 바카라사이트 globe, a sense of solidarity and catalyst for change emerges when 바카라사이트y are examined through volumes such as Minority Women and 바카라사이트 Western Media.
Dr Ahmed also sees some positive changes worth celebrating – particularly in 바카라사이트 way minorities are critically engaging with 바카라사이트 media. “We are also seeing allyship from those different groups coming toge바카라사이트r on account of 바카라사이트 discord…It’s slow progress, but 바카라사이트re are definitely pockets of light,” she concludes.
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about UAEU’s department of media and creative industries.
