There are many ways an individual can create positive, social change to erradicate stereotypes of minorities on television.

1. STOP CONSUMING: One of the most helpful yet difficult ways to act against these setereotypes is to stop consuming media that perpetuates them. Unfortunately, stereotypes of varying ethnic, socioeconomic, religious and gender based stereotypes have infiltrated pop culture. Not consuming media that perpetuates negative stereotypes is an example praxis, in which you are taking action as a result of your theoretical beliefs and thus impacting mainstream media and its value.

To quote American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead,

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

The character Howard Wolowitz, as depicted by Simon Helberg on The Big Bang Theory (currently America’s #1 sitcom), has come under criticism for his stereotypical portal of a self-deprecating, shlemiel-type character.

2. CREATE YOUR OWN: Another way to act against the perpetuation of stereotypes in culture and media is to take charge and create your own media content that resfuses to perpetuate these stereotypes. Whether you are passionate about art, literature, film, science, blogging or food, you have the power to control what kind of representations you support through the work that you create. The difficulty of this solution is that the corporations that are creating this content have such broad power in terms of control over popular outlets and audiences. By creating your own media, your are offering viewers a  space to consume less-biased content and rather engage with more authentic, postive, and multi-dimensional representations.

3. EDUCATION: For those unwilling or unable to stop consumption, they should at least increase their education on the true netagive impace of stereotypes on minority groups. This gives the consumer an opportunity to make a decision based on their new knowledge and formed beliefs. Without education around stereotypes and their impact on perceived reality (as stated in our blog post, Jewish Stereotypes Are Harmful), you are more likely to perpetuate them and you are further enabling the harm that the create.