Stereotypes: Race

The topic of race hasn't always been sensitive issue in the media. In the past, using racism in advertising was an acceptable marketing strategy. Today, standards have changed yet it's not too difficult to find traces of racist attitudes in commercials and pictures.

Few races have been joked more about for their accent than people of Indian decent. The stereotype that all Indian people are tech supporters and speak with amusing accents is well known in our society. Advertisers have used this stereotype to add comedic value to their campaigns. For example, MetroPCS's Tech and Talk with Ranjit and Chad are spokesman that answer calls and tell customers about their great service while performing amusing antics. The ad features two middle-aged Indian men with accents dispensing advice on cell phone usage. The joke relies on the notion that Indians are disproportionately employed as tech-help jockeys or in tech-help call centers.

"How in any way is this appropriate? It makes Indians appear stuck in the 80s, in love with distasteful patterns and crappy techno."

"With bellydancers backing two dorky, fast-talking Indian American computer wizards, it's veritably stuffed with flat, racist stereotypes. Counseling a customer stuck in a cell phone contract, the tecchies use the lop-sided language of the third world"

In addition to advertisers, the popular late night show Jimmy Kimmel Live has a recurring segment of the show that outsources the joke-writing to an Indian call center. The segment portrays a group of Indians with relatively thick accents telling jokes on the topics given to them. These stereotypes are not really used to broaden a message but more as a comedic element that people have been exposed to. The general classification, although not really that negative do have their disadvantages when thought of as difficult to communicate with because of an assumed accent.