Much research analyzes the effects of media stereotyping on attitudes toward marginalized groups. However, few studies have examined how these marginalized groups react to media stereotyping of their own group. In addition, little research has explored the media stereotyping of Appalachians, and currently no research has examined media effects on attitudes toward Appalachians. To fill these gaps in the literature, this mixed-methods thesis used cultivation theory, explicit attitudes, and social identity theory as a framework to better understand how stereotypical media portrayals of Appalachians influence attitudes toward this group, and to determine how accurate Appalachians think media stereotypes are about themselves. Relying on an online survey (N=404) of closed- and open-ended questions, this thesis explored media consumption of Appalachians (N=104) and non-Appalachians (N=300), and their attitudes toward Appalachians. The relationship between media consumption and social identity of Appalachians also was examined. For all participants, the quantitative results indicate a correlation between media consumption and some stereotypes of Appalachia, such as "backwards," racist, and technologically illiterate. The qualitative results indicate that non-Appalachians see Appalachians as "White trash," conservative, uneducated, and poor. Appalachians, however, reject these negative stereotypes and instead associate themselves with positive stereotypes, such as being friendly, musical, close to nature, and hospitable. While there was so significant relationship between media consumption and social identification, this thesis revealed that Appalachians were split in terms of their social identity, adding to our understanding of social identity theory. This thesis contributes to the scant body of literature examining how marginalized populations react to media stereotypes about themselves, and raises questions about the relationship between media cultivation and social identity. / A Thesis submitted to the School of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester 2017. / March 27, 2017. / Appalachia, Attitudes, Cultivation, Social Identity, Stereotypes / Includes bibliographical references. / Summer Harlow, Professor Directing Thesis; Russell Clayton, Committee Member; Felecia F. Jordan Jackson, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_507664 |
| Contributors | Gonyea, Laura Katherine (authoraut), Harlow, Summer (professor directing thesis), Clayton, Russell B. (committee member), Jordan Jackson, Felecia F. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Communication and Information (degree granting college), School of Communication (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text, master thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (107 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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