Activism: where ignorance is not bliss
Trends in the media are a quick way to gain insight on current events. However, coverage on a topic can be minimal, and opinions are created with a weak base of knowledge. Ninety-one out of 99 Peninsula students gain their knowledge of current events from online sources. Many of these media consumers admitted that online media hides the full truth. Viral trends do not give a substantial amount of knowledge to develop valid opinions.
“If you are against something, always have enough knowledge and background to back up your reasons,” senior Laurie Marqueton, president of the GSA, said.
Events such as Ferguson and various protests that occurred during Martin Luther King Jr. Day turned large portions of the media’s attention to the struggle for civil rights. The protests began after 18 year-old Michael Brown was shot by officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. That and other forms of police violence that occurred throughout the country brought the unequal treatment of African Americans to the public eye.
“Through the media, we are able to get our message out,” senior Cheyenne Rogers, president of the Black Student Union, said. “However, it twists some of the correct information that they need.”
Sometime during the protests, a photo was put online of an African American boy hugging a caucasian police officer. Sadly, the photo was revealed to be staged and the boy was set up to take part in it. Information found in online media, such as that photo, can rapidly spread and mislead others into forming false opinions.
The debate for rights of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community has also gained momentum. Since 2009, 36 states have legalized same-sex marriage and more job opportunities and friendlier work environments have been given to them. President Barack Obama called for equality for the LGBT community during his State of the Union address. This acceptance from a distinguished person can positively affect people’s views.
“Marriage equality is more widely accepted,” freshman Will Mueller said. “The trend of being pro-LGBT has grown vastly popular.”
Discrimination still exists regardless of the protections the law provides. Greater awareness for those still suffering from such bias also needs media attention.
There is also ignorance in topics involving gender equality. In the workplace, women’s work is still valued less than men’s. The White House states that the ratio of women’s pay to men’s is 77 cents to a dollar. Feminists still have to advocate their rights even after the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which made unequal wages illegal.
Freshman Emma Nguyen believes that women are discriminated against in a work environment because they are thought to be unstable and distracting. The media, though, promotes female empowerment. The Huffington Post offers reasons women should take part in careers involving technology despite the belief that it is not a “woman’s job.”
However, to the feminists’ misfortune,the media attention also labels feminists as “men-hater.” Sixty out of 95 surveyed students say that feminism receives more negative online attention than positive. Much negative commentary online damages feminism. The Optimist disproved the popular myths spread about feminism, such as lack of femininity and respect for stay-at-home moms and a want for superiority to men.
“The media calls out on injustice towards matters like unequal wage, but it mostly instills negative social standards,” Nguyen said.
Without research, we cannot truly know what is true or false or the possible benefits and detriments for supporting or opposing a cause.
“Inequality happens everywhere,” Marqueton said. “In order to end it, we should believe in what’s right instead of following other people.”
