Sample Answer
Deviance, Crime, and Social Control & Racial and Ethnic Inequality Assignment
WDA #6 – Hate Crimes in the U.S.
Hate crimes have become a deeply concerning element of modern American society. These crimes, motivated by prejudice against race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation, highlight persistent inequalities within the social structure of the United States. Historically, hate crimes were often tied to racial discrimination, such as violence against African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. However, the scope has expanded over time to include attacks on immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and religious minorities like Muslims and Jews.
In today’s society, hate crimes are arguably more visible due to the role of digital media and social networks. The FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics Report shows a consistent increase in reported cases in recent years, particularly after politically or socially charged events. This does not necessarily mean such crimes are new; rather, they are more openly reported and discussed. Modern hate crimes are often fuelled by misinformation, extremist ideologies, and online radicalisation, which spread prejudice at unprecedented rates.
While society has made progress through stronger hate crime laws and greater awareness, these crimes still expose the deep-rooted tensions within American culture. Therefore, hate crimes may not necessarily be “more” prevalent than in the past, but they have become more publicly acknowledged and symbolically powerful in shaping social discourse.
Word count: 252
WDA #7 – Representation of Race and Ethnicity on Television
For this task, I observed four television series: Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC), The Office (NBC), and Stranger Things (Netflix). Each offered a different portrayal of race and ethnicity, revealing how television both reflects and distorts American diversity.
In Grey’s Anatomy, the representation of racial and ethnic groups is relatively balanced. The show includes Black, Asian, and Latin American characters in major roles, portraying them as professionals, leaders, and complex individuals. For example, Miranda Bailey and Cristina Yang are not written through stereotypes; instead, they are developed as ambitious and multifaceted. This aligns more closely with a realistic portrayal of racial integration in urban American settings.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine takes a comedic approach but still provides progressive representation. Characters like Rosa Diaz (Latina) and Captain Holt (a Black, gay police captain) challenge traditional stereotypes within law enforcement. The show intentionally addresses racial profiling and workplace discrimination, making it socially aware while maintaining humour.
In contrast, The Office reflects a less diverse cast and often uses racial stereotypes as part of its satire. While the intent is to expose ignorance, the portrayal sometimes reinforces outdated biases rather than fully challenging them. The show’s limited inclusion of minority characters mirrors the lack of diversity in corporate America during its airing period.
Lastly, Stranger Things features a largely white suburban cast, with only a few minority characters like Lucas Sinclair. His role is significant but still secondary, which underscores how many popular dramas underrepresent minorities, especially in lead roles.
Across all four shows, there is noticeable underrepresentation of Native Americans, Middle Eastern Americans, and Southeast Asians, despite their presence in U.S. demographics. The portrayals vary from progressive (Grey’s Anatomy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) to outdated (The Office), reflecting broader societal shifts toward inclusivity while showing that full representation remains incomplete.
Television still struggles to proportionally represent the racial and ethnic diversity of the U.S. Although there has been improvement in recent years, particularly in streaming content, stereotypes and token roles persist. Representation tends to be more accurate in newer series that consciously integrate diversity into their storytelling rather than as an afterthought.
