How Does Media Affect Public Opinion

The media has a large impact on public opinion. It is often where a majority of people get their information from, so what it shows can have serious effects on the people’s perception and views towards certain subjects. Within the past six hundred years, the development of mass media has increasingly advanced. The first major improvement to media was Johannes Gutenberg’s movable type printing press in the 15th century (Understanding Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication). Gutenberg’s invention allowed for the “mass production of print media” (Understanding Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication). This increased ability to print was very helpful with the rise of daily newspapers, which “helped [Americans] negotiate the rapidly changing world” (Understanding Media and

The problem with this, however, is it reinforces the stereotype of Muslim women being oppressed, and makes it seem like the biggest issue regarding Muslim women is what they can wear and how they are able to express themselves and their religion. In addition, it gives Americans the idea that the culture of Islam is lesser than that of the West, because it is oppressing their women, and gives them the idea of Muslim women needing to be saved from their “repressive” culture and brought to the “superior” one of the West. With the power the media has in regards to public opinion and perception, it lead me to wonder, to what extent does the representation of Muslim women in mass media affect the stereotypes American society has towards them? More often than not, the media portrays Muslim women as weak and oppressed, causing Americans to believe they need to be saved and rescued from their suppressive religion. This makes Western cultures believe they are experts in the topic and know everything about it just by caring, but by doing this, it does not allow Muslim women to express their side to the story, and actually become oppressed by