How Movies and TV Quietly Shape Our Bias: Changing What We Watch Can Change Us

When a Beloved Movie Suddenly Feels Different

Have you ever been halfway through a movie you adored growing up and suddenly felt your stomach tighten? Maybe it was a joke that wasn't funny anymore. A "quirky" character who now feels painfully stereotyped. A romance that once seemed dreamy but today looks like a walking red flag.

Most white women I talk to have had this moment, usually quietly, usually alone, where we realize: Oh. This is what shaped me.

Not in a dramatic, single-episode way. More like a slow drip. A lifetime of background noise shaping what we expect from men, from women, from friendships, from bodies, from families, from ourselves.

And yet, as overwhelming as that realization can be, here's the hope: the same way those small, subtle patterns shaped us over decades, tiny shifts in what we watch now can create new pathways, more empathy, less bias, more awareness. Our brains are plastic.

They rewrite. They evolve.

And we can decide to evolve on purpose.

Media Isn't Just Entertainment: It's Social Conditioning

During Episode 50 of White Women Wake Up, my mother Karen and I talked about one of my New Year's goals: watching ten "classic" movies I had never seen. From The Goonies to Casablanca to Roman Holiday, it was a wild ride, and honestly, an unsettling one.

As I said in the episode:

"None of these movies could truly hold up. They had great plots. But every woman, every heavier person, every person of color, every person with a disability, all of them were tropes."

What I didn't expect was how clearly those tropes revealed themselves once I finally knew what to look for. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. Every classic film became a catalogue of stereotypes: women as lovesick simps, men as irresponsible bros who get away with everything, people of color relegated to comic relief or sidekicks, disabled characters portrayed as objects of pity or inspiration porn.

This isn't just personal reflection, there's real theory behind it.

The Science Behind How Media Shapes Our Minds

1. Cultivation Theory

Long-term exposure to media subtly shapes what we perceive as "normal." (1) Developed by George Gerbner in 1976, cultivation theory explains that if women are portrayed as lovesick, passive, or irrational decade after decade, viewers absorb that as truth, even if we think we're too smart to fall for it. The more television people watch, the more their view of the world aligns with the reality presented on screen rather than actual reality. (1)

2. Parasocial Contact Theory

When we spend years "bonded" to fictional characters, we form emotional associations. (2) That's why viewers who watch shows with strong LGBTQ+ characters show significantly reduced prejudice, even if they have no real-life LGBTQ+ relationships. (3) Research consistently demonstrates that positive portrayals of diverse groups in media can challenge stereotypes and reduce bias among both majority and minority viewers. (10)

3. Implicit Bias and Repeated Exposure

The Kirwan Institute notes that repeated imagery, even when fictional, reinforces subconscious patterns of stereotyping. (4) Studies show that those with higher implicit bias levels against Black people are more likely to categorize non-weapons as weapons, such as mistaking a phone for a gun. (11) When white physicians implicitly associated Black patients with being "less cooperative," they were less likely to refer those patients for critical medical care. (11)

In other words: entertainment is not neutral. It's training. As one researcher notes, "media and culture makers have a role to play by ceasing to perpetuate stereotypes in news and popular culture." (11)

Hollywood's Long History of Reinforcing White Norms

One reason these tropes feel so pervasive is because, historically, the people creating media overwhelmingly came from one demographic.

Between 2007 and 2022, only 16% of top-grossing films were directed by women. (5) Only about 6% of directors were Black, and 3% were Latina. (6) Disabled characters account for less than 3% of speaking roles. (7)

Which means the stories many of us grew up with, especially those of us raised in white suburban households, reflected a very narrow world.

In the podcast, I shared an example about The Goonies:

"Every person of color, every heavier person, every woman was a stereotype."

These weren't accidents. These were patterns created by an industry dominated by white men shaping white cultural norms. And when white cultural norms dominate, white supremacy becomes invisible, the water we swim in, not the shark in the tank.

Recent research analyzing media representation found that "persistent underrepresentation of minorities in film, television, and news media" continues to relegate diverse groups to "tokenistic roles or reinforcing harmful stereotypes." (12) News coverage often focuses on negative portrayals of minority communities, perpetuating narratives of crime, violence, and social deviance. (12)

The Hopeful Part: Our Brains Adjust Faster Than We Think

One of the most fascinating studies I came across was the 2023 Brockman and Kalla experiment. Researchers paid a thousand Fox News viewers to watch 7 hours of CNN per week for 30 days. (8)

What changed? A lot.

Participants shifted 26% on their beliefs about COVID misinformation. Their views on racial discrimination, policing, and gender stereotypes moved significantly toward factual accuracy. Many reported realizing how much their previous media diet shaped their worldview. (8)

All from one month of different content.

If 30 days can loosen deeply held political beliefs, imagine what 5 years of new stories, diverse casts, and thoughtful representation can do for our implicit bias.

Additional research supports this hopeful finding. Studies show that media literacy interventions can significantly reduce stereotypes people hold about Black Americans. (13) When readers engaged with media literacy training before reading news stories about topics that disproportionately stereotype the Black community, such as sports, drugs, or welfare, those who took part in the intervention held fewer stereotypes than readers who did not. (13)

When Representation Expands, Empathy Expands

We know this through research, but we also know it through lived experience.

Karen mentioned in the episode how the 2020 shift to Zoom suddenly exposed us to the real homes of people we'd only known professionally:

"We saw coworkers of different races and backgrounds in their homes. It changed our visual perception of people."

It sounds simple. But the human brain is wired to categorize based on proximity. When our only proximity to marginalized groups comes from caricatures on screen, our implicit bias grows. When we see them as full humans, neighbors, coworkers, protagonists, our empathy grows.

This is why representation matters beyond politics. It literally builds neural pathways that broaden our understanding of humanity.

Research confirms that racial diversity depicted in media can challenge harmful stereotypes and biases held by both majority and minority groups. (14) Positive and nuanced portrayals of individuals from different ethnicities in popular media outlets foster empathy while reducing prejudice. (14) Conversely, persistent portrayal of certain racial groups in stereotypical images has been linked to negative perceptions, with exposure to situation comedies (but not dramas) associated with skewed perceptions of African American education attainment and income levels. (14)

A 2024 Deloitte study found that 70% of all consumers surveyed say they enjoy watching TV shows or movies that help them learn about cultures different from their own. (15) Black, Hispanic and Latinx consumers, and LGBTQ+ audiences drive more than a third of the U.S. media and entertainment market, and 71% of entertainment spend among these groups is driven by feelings of inclusivity. (15)

The Subtle Harm of White-Centered Storytelling

Even when the tropes aren't overt, even when a film is beloved, the messaging accumulates.

White women are often taught to:

• Romanticize male indifference (think Casablanca)

• Excuse men's irresponsibility (every 90s rom-com ever)

• See non-white characters as comedic relief or sidekicks

• Tolerate "quirky" racism, fatphobia, ableism, and sexism

Karen brought up how even modern advertising reinforces these gaps, highlighting the Department of Labor's recent campaign featuring nearly all white "Rockwell-style" workers, imagery that does not reflect America.

This is why we have to examine not just what's wrong, but why we didn't notice sooner. Because the stories we grew up with trained us not to see it.

As discussed in the podcast, even when movies attempt progress, the subtleties remain. From The Goonies' diverse cast that still reduced every marginalized character to a stereotype, to more modern films that show women as slightly more empowered but still falling into men's arms as the ultimate resolution, the patterns persist.

What Happens When We Change What We Watch?

Here's where I want to talk to you woman-to-woman, white woman to white woman, gently but directly.

We cannot control Hollywood. But we can control our media diet.

And small changes make a disproportionate difference. Research shows that when white viewers regularly consume media created by women and people of color, implicit bias drops measurably within months. (9)

Studies examining media salience found that when ethnic minorities received increased positive media attention (such as coverage of Ukrainian refugees during the Russia-Ukraine war), prejudice against those groups significantly decreased among adolescents. (16) The research highlighted that media attention for marginalized groups can meaningfully shift outgroup perceptions and feelings. (16)

Five Subtle Shifts That Actually Move the Needle

1. Diversify Who Writes, Directs, and Stars in Your Queue

Not performatively, intentionally. Let these narratives shape you. Look for films and shows created by women, people of color, LGBTQ+ creators, disabled filmmakers. Their perspectives offer authenticity that mainstream media often misses.

Research shows that diverse representation is essential for fostering social cohesion and combating prejudice. (17) When decision-makers in media are diverse, authentic representation naturally follows. (17)

2. Rotate Genres You Don't Normally Watch

Your algorithm mirrors your bias. Break it. If you typically watch murder mysteries, try documentaries about cultures different from your own. If you love rom-coms, explore international cinema. Each departure from your pattern weakens the echo chamber.

3. Watch Content That Portrays Healthy Gender Dynamics

In the podcast, I mentioned the series All Her Fault, which subtly illustrates the mental load imbalance many families live with. The show does something brilliant: it paints male characters as good, nice guys while showing how they still contribute to the mental load. Rather than making men villains, it shows the normalities of everyday inequality, creating space for understanding rather than defensiveness.

This kind of nuanced storytelling has the power to shift perspectives without triggering the defensiveness that often accompanies conversations about gender inequality.

4. Introduce New Media to Your Friends and Family

Shared viewing creates shared language, and shared unlearning. When you watch something that challenges your perspective with someone you trust, the conversation afterward can be transformative. Don't preach, just share what moved you.

5. Notice Your Reactions

Curiosity is more powerful than shame. When you feel defensive watching something that challenges your worldview, get curious about that feeling. When you catch yourself making assumptions about a character based on their race, gender, or body type, notice it. Awareness is the first step to change.

The Pink Pill: Teaching Through Facts, Not Lectures

In the podcast, I mentioned a fascinating approach called "pink pilling," the opposite of the "red pill" phenomenon where men fall down rabbit holes of misogyny and isolation.

Pink pilling involves sharing factual information about women's experiences, not as lectures but as interesting facts. For example: Did you know women couldn't get credit cards in their own name until 1974? Or that women spend an average of $6,000 in their lifetime on menstrual products?

The podcast I referenced features a wife sharing these facts with her husband, who is often genuinely shocked. He's proud to learn, not defensive. Because he wants to know things. He doesn't want to be in the dark.

This approach works because it assumes good faith. It recognizes that most people, when presented with information that expands their understanding, are curious rather than resistant. We just need to create the conditions for that curiosity to flourish.

Why This Matters Now More Than Ever

Media consumption patterns have fundamentally changed. We're no longer passively receiving whatever the three major networks decide to broadcast. We have unprecedented control over what we watch, and with that control comes responsibility.

Younger generations are already demanding better. Gen Z and millennials, who make up a significant share of the U.S. population, are more diverse than older generations and more likely to identify as LGBTQ+ or neurodiverse. (15) They expect inclusive representation in entertainment content, and they vote with their viewership. (15)

But this isn't just about appealing to younger audiences or being "politically correct." Research consistently shows that diverse media representation:

• Reduces implicit bias and prejudice (9)(11)(13)

• Increases empathy and understanding across group lines (14)(16)

• Fosters social cohesion in diverse societies (17)

• Improves critical thinking skills about media messages (13)

When we diversify our media consumption, we're not just being good allies. We're literally rewiring our brains to be more empathetic, less biased, more aware human beings.

Moving Beyond Individual Action: Demanding Systemic Change

While changing our personal media diet matters, we also need to demand systemic change from the industry itself.

Currently, less than a third of consumers believe the media and entertainment industry is inclusive. (15) That needs to change, not just because it's morally right, but because it's economically smart. Research shows that investing in inclusivity has real business implications for production companies and streaming platforms. (15)

We can support this shift by:

• Subscribing to streaming services that prioritize diverse content

• Following and amplifying diverse creators on social media

• Calling out stereotypes and harmful tropes when we see them

• Supporting crowd-funded projects by marginalized creators

• Teaching our children to be critical consumers of media

A Final Thought: We're Not Broken, We're Becoming

It's easy to look back at decades of media influence and feel embarrassed: How did I not see these tropes? But that shame isn't ours to carry.

We weren't taught to see bias. We were taught to normalize it.

What matters now is that we're waking up, together.

And as we shift what we watch, we shift what we believe. As we shift what we believe, we shift how we behave. And as we shift how we behave, we create the kind of world our mothers and daughters, and everyone else's mothers and daughters, deserve.

The stories we consume become the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and who we can be. Let's choose stories that expand rather than limit, that humanize rather than stereotype, that challenge rather than comfort.

Our brains are waiting to be rewired. The question is: What stories will we use to do it?

Until next time, stay curious, be open and keep waking up!

Jonelle

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This article draws from conversations featured in the White Women Wake Up podcast, Episode 50: "Rewriting the Script: How Movies Shape What We Believe About Gender and Power." This article expands on that conversation, offering additional research, context, and actionable guidance.

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References

1. Gerbner, G. (1976). Living with Television: The Violence Profile. University of Pennsylvania.

2. Horton, D., & Wohl, R. (1956). Mass Communication and Para-Social Interaction. Psychiatry Journal.

3. Schiappa, E., Gregg, P., & Hewes, D. (2005). Parasocial Contact and Prejudice Reduction. Human Communication Research.

4. Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. Implicit Bias Primer.

5. USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative (2023). Inequality in 16 Years of Top Films.

6. UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report (2022).

7. Ruderman Family Foundation. Disability Inclusion in Film and TV.

8. Broockman, D., & Kalla, J. (2023). The Persuasive Effects of Partisan Media.

9. Gillig, T. et al. (2020). Media Representation and Implicit Bias Reduction. Journal of Communication.

10. Mastro, D. (2015). Why the media's role in issues of race and ethnicity should be in the spotlight. Journal of Social Issues, 71, 1-16.

11. Godsil, R.D. & Jiang, H. (2018). Implicit Bias Explained. Perception Institute.

12. Whong, C. (2024). Examining the Media Representation of Minorities. Policy Journal of Multistakeholder Studies, 1(3), 21-22.

13. Erba, J. (2022). KU Studies: Media Literacy Can Reduce Stereotypes. University of Kansas News.

14. Mastro, D. et al. (2024). Inclusive Content Reduces Racial and Gender Biases. arXiv preprint.

15. Westcott, K. & Auxier, B. (2024). Diversity in Media: Younger Generations Expect Diversity in Media. Deloitte Digital Media Trends.

16. Bobba, B., Thijs, J., & Crocetti, E. (2024). A War on Prejudice: The Role of Media Salience in Reducing Ethnic Prejudice. Journal of

Adolescence, 96(3), 457-468.

17. McLeod, D. (2007). Media and Diversity: A Century-Long Perspective. InMedia, 5.