For Kids’ Sake, TV Must Be More Diverse

Imagine an America where Native American women do not exist and Latinos are a mere 2% of the population, where there is only one woman for every two men, and where mostly persons of color occupy lower-rung occupations. If you tuned in to prime-time network television during the 2000-01 season, that was the America you saw, according to Children Now, a child policy and advocacy organization (“Diverse Casts on Television Are Still Over the Rainbow,” by Greg Braxton, May 1).

“Fall Colors 2000-01,” Children Now’s just-released report on prime-time television diversity of race, class and gender, tells this disappointing story. As a Latina mother and Federal Communications Commissioner, I believe we must change this picture.

Television is the most powerful medium we have to show our children their value and their potential. Although the Internet has gotten more attention lately, television remains the medium that reaches the most children and occupies children’s time the most. Children on average watch three hours of television a day, mostly during prime time. The Internet, for those children who have access, lags behind at an average of only eight minutes per day.

Consider the following from the “Fall Colors” report: Prime-time television represents America as “overwhelmingly populated by able-bodied, single, heterosexual, white, male adults under 40.” During a period in which the Latino population increased dramatically, the percentage of Latinos on prime-time television has decreased from 3% to 2%. Native Americans were virtually invisible.

On a positive note, the report showed significant diversity in programming beginning at 10 p.m. and in hourlong dramas. But the programming most viewed by children--sitcoms--is the least diverse overall. Children, thus, see a much more homogenous prime-time world than adults who watch during the later hours.

Among “Fall Colors’ ” other disconcerting findings are the images our young girls receive about who they are. According to the report, the prime-time female character is likely to be “a beautiful, young, thin, white woman who is intelligent but at the same time adheres to traditional gender stereotypes such as focusing on appearance and motivated by a desire for a romantic relationship.”

The report adds that young girls of color rarely see female characters that look like themselves. If a young Latina watched every prime-time show every night, she would see only five recurring Latina characters, three of whom occupy service jobs.

What are these powerful images telling our children? You may be invisible or nearly invisible; you may only have a future as a nonskilled worker; and there is little value in the richness of our diverse society.

Many of the children’s voices in the report are disheartening. A Latina girl commented, “They never show us as being good people, going to school, having a career.” A Native American boy, echoing a finding that children have and value their friendships with different races, stated, “Show them all people . . . show them together. As friends.”

How can we change this picture? One way to ensure that television better reflects the color and makeup of America is to ensure that the television industry makes an effort to employ people who reflect this diversity. Putting diverse people behind, as well as in front of, the camera can stimulate more diverse casts and more inclusive story lines.

Our television industry--the industry with the most power to shape our society’s view of itself--must work to build a work force, cast of characters and set of story lines that mirror our diverse society. The public interest demands that the television industry eliminate the dismal statistics appearing in the “Fall Colors” report. The FCC should hold the television industry accountable for these statistics and, if necessary, compel industry policies that will change the picture.

America is strong because of its rich and constantly evolving cultural diversity. Since the inception of television, broadcasters have been obliged, as a condition of receiving the free use of the public’s airwaves, to serve the public interest. If the public-interest obligation means anything, it means a responsibility for enriching our children’s lives. My colleagues at the FCC should insist that broadcasters comply with the public-interest standard of putting families and communities first.

When prime-time television fails to respect America’s ethnicity and fails to tell stories and to project images that reach all of America, it fails our children.

Children in America must see themselves to value themselves. The television industry must include representatives of all of America’s children in its prime-time lineup.

Gloria Tristani has been an FCC commissioner since 1997. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, she holds a law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Counterpunch is a weekly feature designed to let readers respond to reviews or stories about entertainment and the arts. Please send proposals to: Counterpunch, Calendar, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Or fax: (213) 237-7630. Or e-mail: Counterpunch@latimes.com. Important: Include full name, address and phone number. Please do not exceed 600 words. We appreciate all proposals and regret that we cannot respond to each.