"We are all aware of problematic stereotypes and prejudices regarding ethnicity, race, or gender; indeed, there are many laws to discourage such discriminatory behavior. The reality is that detrimental stereotypes in the media are so numerous and pervasive that they negatively affect the entire American population not just a minority of citizens. Not all damaging stereotypes are obvious. In fact, the pictorial stereotypes in the media that we don't notice could be the most harmful because we aren't even aware of the negative, false ideas they perpetrate. This book presents a series of original research essays on media images of groups including African Americans, Latinos, women, the elderly, the physically disabled, gays and lesbians, and Jewish Americans, just to mention a few. Specific examples of these images are derived from a variety of sources, such as advertising, fine art, film, television shows, cartoons, the Internet, and other media."--Jacket.