Alyson Steele
DARE Project: The Role of Entertainment Media in in the Persistence of Canadian and American Poverty
Program(s) of Study: Major/Minor Sociology & Gender and Women's Studies
Project Supervisor: Anne F. MacLennan
I hope this research will impact how aware we are of how poverty and those who experience poverty are depicted in the media.
Project Description:
The rise of entertainment media in the persistence of Canadian and American poverty looks at the effects of entertainment media on marginalized, stigmatized, and/or misrepresented social groups—including those experiencing poverty. I have been working through content analysis, analyzing media in television, film, and music for examples of how poverty is represented and how those images affect how we view those experiencing poverty. Media representations of poverty are from 2008-2024 and are examined to understand the potential lack of greater empathy for the poor and the depth of unconscious bias against the poor in Canada and the United States.The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (DARE) - Undergraduate enables our students to meaningfully engage in research projects supervised by LA&PS faculty members. Find out more about DARE.