Media Myths: 30 Things People Believe Are Incorrectly Portrayed As Stigmatized
Interview
People around the world are suspicious about the information that reaches them. For example, the 32% of Americans who say they trust the mass media "a great deal" or "a fair amount" to cover the news fully and accurately ties Gallup's lowest historical reading, previously recorded in 2016.
Another 29% of American adults have "not very much" trust, while a record-high 39% register "none at all." The latest figure is the highest in Gallup's five-decade history of tracking these metrics by one percentage point and 12 points higher than the 2016 number, which came amid sharp criticism of the media from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, making the current assessment the grimmest we've seen.
Image credits: stefan_reevezsky
However, many believe the situation isn't that much better even if we take a step away from reporting. Last week, Reddit user Stefan_Reevezsky asked others on the platform "What things are claimed to be 'stigmatized' in [the] media, but actually aren't in society?" and folks have thought of plenty.
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Boomers, hands down
The vast majority of boomers are sweet elderly people who are nice to talk to. Not racist caricatures that spout nonsense all the time.
In America, the boomers gave us civil rights. A lot of them were shipped off to war in Vietnam against their will. Every generation faces its own challenges. The boomers had their share.
Doing stuff by yourself. Some people here get almost hysterical when they describe eating at a restaurant or seeing a movie by yourself. I guarantee you that if you’re behaving normally, no one else gives the tiniest of s**ts if you went out by yourself.
We got in touch with the author of the post, and they were kind enough to tell us more about it. "I had this question come to mind while I was developing the storyline for a detective novel I'm planning to write," Stefan_Reevezsky explained to Bored Panda. "The protagonist in my story faces trial based on allegations concocted by a third-party journalist investigator."
The Redditor elaborated on their thought process, saying, "As I was brainstorming, the word 'stigma' popped up frequently, leading me to realize that many things portrayed as 'unacceptable' in popular media are actually mundane in real society."
Blue-collared jobs sometimes are looked down upon in media, but in reality, skilled trades are often in high demand and well-respected.
I worked in IT for 16 years of struggle. It was bad for my body (ten hours a day in a chair hunched over a keyboard isn’t great on you) it was bad for my mental health mostly because the industry is always in flux. Layoffs are common, policy changes daily and when the company loses 10% stock value it’s do more with no resources and no days off. In 16 years I was with 6 different companies. I was only fired once (quite quit type of thing, I didn’t care anymore and was just calling out sick to interview other places because they wouldn’t approve pto anymore without a month of notice) the rest I was laid off, restructured. I work a pretty blue collar job now and I make more. Get to be outside all day and I could honestly make it through months never seeing my boss if I don’t want to ( my boss is cool tho too.) it took a few years to advance to the money I made in it but now I’m doing better and I’m on track for a good retirement because now I have not just a 401k but a pension too.
"Take tattoos or piercings, for example. Despite articles claiming they're stigmatized, there's a mainstream culture around them, and most people outside of it simply don't care, except for certain workplace norms," the Reddit user said.
"The same goes for being gay, short, a single mother, a blue-collar worker, or dealing with depression or other mental health issues."
Maybe wanting to stay single. Media portrays it as a desperate cry for love, but in reality, it's pretty liberating!
This one for sure. I was constantly seeking a relationship. It wasn’t until I spent a few years singing and being introspective about why my relationships failed that I was actually ready to be in a relationship. I’ve been married for 15 years now. I couldn’t make a relationship last 15 weeks prior. Do you and you might actually find someone who fits you.
Slightly niche perhaps, but my kids always had trouble buying Fathers Day cards for me because I didn't spend my evenings down the pub, fish or play golf.
Stefan_Reevezsky tried to find similar threads on Reddit but they couldn't, so they decided to just post the question themselves and see what everyone thinks.
The responses were diverse, but from that the author of the post has gathered, "Western media tends to portray many things as stigmatized because people, especially young ones, seek reassurance by finding 'dragons to slay.'"
I have to say wearing glasses and having braces. No one called me four eyes. No one called me tinsel teeth. Believe me, I was made fun of as a kid, but those weren’t the reasons.
I was in 6th grade (11-12 years old) when I got my first pair of glasses. I go to school the next day, fully expecting to be called 'four eyes' but the boy who sat in front of me told me the glasses made me look very sophisticated. Made my day. Made the whole year.
Not wearing makeup. The media and Internet are full of all the pressure to wear makeup but I work with HUNDREDS of women and maybe a third of us sometimes wear lipstick or eyeliner? I can count on one hand the ones who wear foundation. Nobody says anything. Even the college president was barefaced giving a plenary speech and at commencement. There's no stigma for me wearing some color when I feel like it either. It's just not relevant to anyone's interests.
I have better things to do with my time and money than waste it on make up. If you enjoy it, then fabulous, keep on with it. Do whatever makes you happy.
"What better dragon than a stigma surrounding something you identify with or enjoy? It fits into our heavily labeled culture, where fighting for a label becomes a narrative akin to classic Hollywood underdog stories. People who lack substantial identity often cling to these labels, supporting media that reinforces their perceived battles," the Redditor added.
"It struck me as odd that no one had posed this question before, considering the multitude of responses I received. Perhaps it's because admitting that some stigmas don't exist is itself stigmatized."
Karens. Hear me out!! It went from being a thing of recording and judging actually rude and often racist women who complain just to complain. But as more videos popped up, people are recording and sensationalizing situations where if you were in her shoes, you'd be mad too! Karen isn't synonymous with "old lady you find annoying".
I have several friends named Karen who are lovely and this trope irritates me.
Being Average looking, it seems like social media loves to see *supermodel like people* and forget that most of the public is average and or unattractive sometimes, and that's alright. I like that there are more people on social media that are vocalizing this issue and letting us know that normal is ok, Flawed is ok. ( No shade to attractive people, they're beautiful and everyone loves to look at them but my point is they are not the only ones that exist).
I have problems telling faces apart so I love people with unusual features.
There was a study where researchers analyzed 41 movies that had been released between 1990 and 2010 for depictions of schizophrenia. Based on the findings of the analysis, they drew several conclusions, including:
- Most of the characters displayed "positive" symptoms of schizophrenia, with delusions being featured most frequently, followed by auditory and visual hallucinations;
- The majority of characters displayed violent behavior toward themselves or others;
- Nearly one-third of violent characters engaged in homicidal behavior;
- About one-fourth of the characters committed suicide;
- The cause of schizophrenia was infrequently noted. However, in about one-fourth of the movies it was implied that a traumatic life event for the character had been a significant factor;
- Of the movies that alluded to or showed mental illness treatment, psychotropic medications were most commonly portrayed.
Other studies have also discovered that 75% of depictions of mental illness in popular video games are negative or stereotyped.
Enjoying pineapple on pizza. It's the secret handshake of the culinary brave.
I never understood this one. It's not like someone is forcing people to eat Hawaiian pizza, so what's the deal if someone likes it?
Couples with very different attractiveness. Happens all the time irl and nobody actually says stuff.
These portrayals are not only incorrect but damaging because they spread myths about mental Illness. Schizophrenia is often painted with symptoms such as visual hallucinations, bizarre delusions, and disorganized speech, and they're presented as if they're commonplace. In reality, however, symptoms like decreased motivation, poverty of speech, and flat affect are more common. And this is just one example of how media portrayals can threaten to (re)shape societal perceptions and contribute to harmful stereotypes.
Going to college when you're older..theres tins of adults over 35 trying to reinvent themselves..theres even an old guy who made school a lifelong career.
My oldest classmate in uni was 88. She was lovely and just wanted to get a bachelor in Philosophy.
Being short (as a man). Especially online, people have made such a mountain out of this particular molehill over the last few years. I've never met a woman who strictly dates men 6' and up, and my short mates get plenty of action.
The most important thing to me is to be just a cool person, I don't care about the height!
Recent trend seems to be the “blue bubble/green bubble” debate with iPhones and Androids. People apparently HATE green bubbles and refuse to communicate with anyone if they have to send green bubble text messages.
Have not met a single soul in person or even online who gives a s**t.
Inlaws, most people I know get on pretty well with their inlaws.
Everything.
The media likes to blow things well out of proportion to get a good story for people to follow and talk about.
Most of the time, it's because of the media that many big problems are as "big" as they are.
I've gotten completly off of TV news for this reason. I check the print headlines each day and read a couple articles on the main actual news events of the day and then move on with my life. I'm done mentally participating in the constant generated outrage.
Dads going to parks alone with their children.
Since when has this been stigmatised? I used to do this all the time with my daughter, and there were often other dads with their kids. No one ever took the slightest bit of notice.
High school stereotypes, they scared the s**t out of me until I got to high school.
I'm German, but I participated in a school exchange with a school in Texas. I knew all the stereotypes from the movies, but the real thing was nothing like it. My pal had a diverse friend group that included "popular" types and nerds alike, just like peole with different ethnicities and backgrounds.
There are a lot of posts here saying "Normalize eating out/getting coffee/seeing a movie alone."
Seriously, no one cares. Do those things, they are normal.
Being a nerd. Yeah nerdiness might get you bullied in school depending, but a lot of nerd culture has just become part of...well, culture. I find this most annoying with elder millennials who still act like they're some sort of oppressed elite because the dare to like Mario.
Having freckles. When the fake freckles makeup trend was taking off, tons of people came out of the woodwork to complain about how “unfair” it was that they got teased for having freckles and now it’s a trend. I’m sorry, but unless you were physically and socially perfect in the eyes of your peers in elementary school, you probably got bullied for something arbitrary. For me, it was my big ears. I’m not going to sit here and whine about people stretching their ears and making them bigger. It’s such a fake problem.
Nuclear power has been stigmatized by the environmentalists and now guess what… it appears to be reliable, very cost effective and to date the safest form of energy.
Anything that produces tons of radioactive waste that won't deteriorate for centuries is not safe.
(Celebs) being gay (in western europe)
Most of us don't give a s**t.
Not wanting to have kids. Besides direct family members(which I mean, kinda makes sense why your parents and grandparents might want you to have kids of your own), it seems like the stigma of not wanting kids is extremely overblown. I tend to see WAY more posts and media about people feeling special/rebellious for not wanting kids than I ever see for others demanding that people have children outside of fringe alt-right types, and they tend to only want "certain people" to have more kids.
The "no kids forever" crowd seem to be like inverted vegans, they actually do bring it up all the time and act as if they are hated for their choice when in reality the vast majority of people don't care or see the benefits of said choice.
Discussing mental illness. "X illness is taboo to talk about. We need to talk more about X." It isn't taboo and in fact it's now trendy to wear your particular flair of mental illness with pride.
It's obviously OK to talk about mental illness in an appropriate context, but there should be the same boundaries as talking about physical illness. You don't go up to someone and say, "Hi, I have diabetes."
Voting for the other party.
I blame the news for the political divide.
Wearing socks with sandals—media might mock it, but let's be real, comfort is always in style, even if it's not runway-ready!
I find it exceptionally weird. Sandals to me are the next best thing to being barefoot, why on earth would you ruin that with socks. Mind you I'd be barefoot all day everyday if it weren't for man made issue and people seem to think that's weird.
Why would you? For the relief of soft soles and no tight toe box. For the warmth and soft comfort of socks. For the freedom of going out and not having people stare because your feet aren't model-perfect. Give it a few years, you'll figure it out.
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With different colorful socks, like the ones pictured here, it looks cool, IMO.
If your fashion style is comfortable, keeps you warm and covered, then that's all that really matters.
We all know it is a particular pairing of socks and sandals. The white crew cut, mid calf sock with some lots of straps brown sandals.
Once my uncle insisted that I *had* to wear socks with sandals. Mind you, I was an adult. A young adult, but still damn old enough to decide what to wear on my own feet!
My feet feel comfortable in white socks/sandals. I also enjoy the song Socks 'n' Sandals by Graham Parker.
i will always cringe at it because, in our neighborhood growing up, it was only old men cutting the grass wearing socks with sandals, but i realize that's probably just a local ick
Media acts like the internet is just cyberbullying, predators, scams, and dangerous/illegal Tik Tok trends.
They also act like a 12yo playing GTA is suddenly gonna want to actually steal cars and shoot people.
Internet is a tool. Every tool has its inherent dangers. You wouldn't let a kid play alone with a drill or a power saw.
Saying Merry Christmas.
Some of the crazier conservatives came up with an imaginary "war on Christmas" and have been grasping at this long-debunked narrative for years. The truth is that other seasonal holidays are celebrated too, and that's what "triggers" them so much. They are basically angry that they cannot force Christmas as being the *only* holiday that's allowed to be celebrated.
I'm a dude. Grew up rather sheltered and had to follow all the rules.
Recently I questioned my entire existence and long story short my self esteem is getting fixed and I have purple hair, piercings and painted nails, usually with a cute little pattern like lightning or something.
My parents are old world Indian, they aren't able to process that I can get high level corporate jobs looking slightly punk. I have a tattoo full sleeve but apart from classy earrings and nail polish and purple hair you don't see anything even remotely non corporate. Except maybe backpack instead of briefcase. Because duh.
" I have a tattoo full sleeve but apart from classy earrings and nail polish and purple hair you don't see anything even remotely non corporate." Hmm - I'm not sure the nail polish and purple hair are giving off corporate vibes either! I'm not judging - I'm an older female with a scarlet and blue mullet (the colour changes every few months) and have had corporate(ish) jobs until just recently.
Being from Ireland, use of the word "c**t" in everyday parlance.
It's like kryptonite to Americans...
LOL. I can see a bunch of people turning like a meerkats to the OP in disbelief of what did they just hear
The "bad guy" in a lot of relationship movies is often the one everyone goes for in real life whereas the protagonist is often who people avoid
the villain is often the stiff, responsible, high power job guy
the hero is often some free spirit, quirky type, no life plan, extremely expressive, etc.
Older women dating younger men.
I think it depends on the age difference. There is 7 years between me and my partner (he's younger) I think it's weird if the other person is old enough to be your kid or grandkid but hey that's just me.
It’s a mixed bag. Everything has varying levels of stigma. For example, mental health, we are now at a place in society where we can talk about it and some people will call you a fruit loop, as I was called once, and some people will shower you in empathy and support, as I once received.
So is mental illness stigmatized? Eye of the beholder.
Speaking 2 languages. Maybe it was 50 years ago but now bilingual speakers just adopt that oppression. I’ve never heard it not been praised.
I would say it's having tattoos, piercings, etc. If people around are split 50/50 - those who just glance and those who don't care - it doesn't mean that there is a stigma.
This comment was definitely made by someone who doesn't have bold tattoos/piercings lmao
Bullying, unfortunately. Despite all the negative coverage, anti-bullying campaigns, and other efforts to tamp it down, bullying will always occur in some form with the perpetrators tending to be among the more popular persons within social groups.
Wait a minute, are saying that bullying is stigmatized by the media but is OK irl?
Owning a firearm
Everyone with a gun isn’t a racist militia redneck or a black inner city gangbanger.
And being a 'good person' doesn't prevent you from being shot because you pulled out a gun, and it doesn't prevent your kids to accidently kill someone, including themselves, if not correctly secured.
Being conservative or voting Republican.
Turn on any streaming tv show or movie and you'd think nobody in America is right of center.
Watching from Europe, you have no middle. Your two major parties are far right or right.
Diversity in general (sexuality, ethnicity, gender). When I see some articles and videos about this it sometimes feels like a parody. I've never seen discrimination in real life being that much of a problem on a scale that media shows. Of course, there are some cases when it's a problem and I don't try to marginalize it, but society nowadays isn't really that racist/homophobic/sexist like the media portrays it (I'm not talking about countries where it's a big issue still, but USA or Europe for example where this problem is really not that common).
Being a traditional nuclear family.
I do not think promiscuous women are judged that much.
At a certain age, people start thinking you are odd if you never smoked pot, been drunk, or had sex with more than one person.
People talk down to you like a child if you are sexually inexperienced.
American culture is not prudish at all.
I do not even think people are all that judgmental of people's sexual behavior.
Then again, I live in a liberal part of the country.
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I don't want to sound presumptuous, but I feel like a lot of these are just written by people who are privileged enough to not have to deal with judgement for xyz on a daily basis. Saying that the united states isn't racist, that s**t shaming doesn't exist. There are some insane takes in this thread.
Some of them toe the line between "this genuinely almost never happens, the media exaggerates it" and "this has never happened to ME and therefore the media is wrong about it ever happening".
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Dermatologists are fighting like crazy to stigmatize freckles, or as they call them, "melanized epidermal lesions" or something crazy like that. They're balanced out by advertisers who practically fetishize them.
And people have been blessed with them for THOUSANDS of years and (to my knowledge) never had their heads fall off due to them.
Load More Replies... I've been on a plane many, many times (maybe even around a hundred), and I have NEVER seen anyone acting entitled or Karen-ish the way we hear about in the BP AITAs. That's not to say it never happens, but it certainly isn't as common as the posters make it out to be. Most common thing is maybe kids kicking the back of your seat every now and then, but nobody is as outright mean as the stories say.
Breastfeeding. IRL no cares. Feed your baby wherever. It's fine.
I don't want to sound presumptuous, but I feel like a lot of these are just written by people who are privileged enough to not have to deal with judgement for xyz on a daily basis. Saying that the united states isn't racist, that s**t shaming doesn't exist. There are some insane takes in this thread.
Some of them toe the line between "this genuinely almost never happens, the media exaggerates it" and "this has never happened to ME and therefore the media is wrong about it ever happening".
Load More Replies... Dermatologists are fighting like crazy to stigmatize freckles, or as they call them, "melanized epidermal lesions" or something crazy like that. They're balanced out by advertisers who practically fetishize them.
And people have been blessed with them for THOUSANDS of years and (to my knowledge) never had their heads fall off due to them.
Load More Replies... I've been on a plane many, many times (maybe even around a hundred), and I have NEVER seen anyone acting entitled or Karen-ish the way we hear about in the BP AITAs. That's not to say it never happens, but it certainly isn't as common as the posters make it out to be. Most common thing is maybe kids kicking the back of your seat every now and then, but nobody is as outright mean as the stories say.
Breastfeeding. IRL no cares. Feed your baby wherever. It's fine.
