1. What are the issues that
surround the
representation of
different groups in TV
drama – age, race,
gender, class, disability,
regional identity?

2. AGE
Soap operas and TV Drama’s have a part to play in
showing stereotypes.
The representation of Age is shown on how people
quickly deem other people too old, or too young or
furthermore to criticise them for being immature or
boring. We criticise people around us as on how they
represent themselves.
Common Representations of Age are
• Rebellious Teen linked into crime
• Forgetful Old woman/man
• Cradle robbing woman/man
• Male/Female in mid-life crisis
• Middle Age women clinging to her youth
• Silly Old Man
ETHNICITY
Ethnicity is a set of genetically defined biological characteristics.
Similar to gender it is a set of culturally defined characters.
Representations of Race/Ethnicity in the media can consist of the same
sort of rigid stereotypes that constitute gender portrayal. Stereotype
of race is much harmful than gender as media representation may
constitute the only experience of contact with a particular ethnic
group that an audience may have.
Common representations:
African –criminal, gangster,
Asian –intelligent, martial artist, electronics-
obsessed, Latino –ugly, uneducated,
White British/American –hero, lead role, powerful.

3. CLASS
The representation of Class and Status are;
- Poor/moneyless
- Lower Class
- Lower Middle Class
- Working Class
- Upper Middle Class
- Upper Class
- Elite/Rich/Millionaire
Status Symbols are used to establish class, to silently assert power over those who aren’t quite as fortunate or successful
and to fit into a stereotype or set of individuals.
The Status Symbols are;
- Clothing or Lack of it
- Cars
- Jewellery
- Brands
- Houses/Mansions
- Gadgets

4. GENDER
This what we use to categorise human beings as it is the main part of our identity and we make assumptions on people based on
their gender at first (we would have different expectations to a boy and a girl e.g. girls would be more gentle than boys.
The representations of women tend to be stereotypical. Women are often represented as being part of a context of family, friends,
colleagues.
Women and men are represented differently due to the stereotypes we have of them e.g. women in the kitchen and men going out to
work.
The representations of women across media tend to highlight on the following;
- Beauty
- Size
- Emotional
- Relationships
Male characters are often represented as isolates, they are the lone hero. The representations of men across all media focuses on
the following;
- Strength
- Power
- Attractiveness
- Physique
- Independence

5. People who are physically disabled include:
paralysed, blind, deaf etc. These people would be
at a disadvantage in the drama where they may be
bullied or looked down upon. However in some
cases they may be sympathised by characters in
the drama as well as by the audience.
DISABILITY REGIONAL IDENTITY
This is referring to the part of the UK someone is from e.g.
English, Scottish etc.
Scottish – loves outdoors, drinks a lot, wearing kilts etc.
English – obsessed with football and beer or sometimes
they are shown as posh and rich.
Irish – drunks, lives in country side, religious people etc.