Media as Confounder in Social Justice and Social Stratification: A Freirean Framework for Critical Media Studies

This paper builds upon social justice research within cultural and media studies to assess how social stratification may be reduced. While audience stratification from Hall’s three decodings has been observed, how media further leads to socioeconomic or health inequalities holds value to investigate. Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed is mobilized as theoretical framework to consider means through which audiences marginalized by systemic or structural oppression may be stratified via media-engagement. Freire posits that beyond symbolic violence, oppression may result in 1) direct violence that leads to mental health challenges and trauma; 2) more socially-imposed tasks, which may deprive marginalized individuals of self-determination and autonomy; 3) what may be conceptualized as greater life-task complexity, via which marginalized individuals are simultaneously burdened with more imposed tasks – such as finding essential livelihood – yet also fewer leverage-points to resolve tasks due to marginalization; 4) greater risk of negative stereotyping with limited options for new identities and representations in society; and 5) reduced decision-making power and liberty in labor-arrangements. In turn, systemic and structural oppression acts upon media toward diverse outcomes which may lead to further social disadvantage in power hierarchies. A preliminary framework of media behaviors to promote equality concludes the study.