levision. In PBS programming, the network responsible for some of the most popular children's shows, the ratio of male to female roles is two to one. Children who watch this get the message the programs are sending out: men are always in the professional, powerful roles, while women are in marital, romantic, and family roles. "Despite the vitality of the women's movement throughout the early 1970's, there is no evidence that this has been reflected in changing sex-roles on television" (Williams, 29). As a result, the effects on television portrayals of sex-role attitudes range from ages kindergarten to the sixth grade. The children in this age group that watched a lot of television were more likely to give more stereotyped answers to questions about sex-roles than light television watchers. The same experiment but this time reversed was conducted by Davidson, Yascha, and Tuser. They concluded that when sex-roles were reversed(when women had more power), after children viewed these programs they were less likely to answer questions from a stereotypical standpoint. Clearly, this shows the influence television has on the viewpoints of children. These viewpoints will eventually lead to beliefs which may bring out hostility in the individual when met with opposition. The belief that women are inferior to men is a belief that does not express reality, only the fake reality seen on the television. However, women are not the only group that is victimized in a way by television. It also creates a distorted view of ethnic minorities. Hispanic characters are often portrayed as unskilled and semi-skilled laborers. Usually they are cast as comic characters or in law-breaking or law enforcing roles. Since children are usually unfamiliar with different minority groups, it is likely that television will influence their views of these groups. The establishment of sex-roles and other stereotypical attitudes on television is a contributor...
