You will create a 500 word essay in which you will
discuss the way The Big Issue Represents the poor/working class. As part of your essay you will explore the
stereotypes associated with the working class and underclass.
The Big Issue represents the poor and working class individuals in a very different way to how many mainstream media platforms represent working class or underclass individuals and families. The representation of homelessness, working class or underclass individuals amongst mainstream media is predominantly right wing. Newspapers such as The Sun or the Daily Mail usually portray a stereotypical view of lower class citizens and suggest that most working class or underclass individuals abuse the welfare system or that they are all 'CHAVS' (council house and violent) in some way. Lawler (2005) showed that CHAV is used as a term of disgust and contempt and argues that the media use discriminatory and offensive language to show how people in society view working class and underclass individuals, which is as stereotypical form of appearance. Underclass is defined as the segment of the population that occupies the lowest possible position in a class hierarchy, below the core body of the working class. Many articles have featured in The Sun that suggest that these underclass members of society are unnecessarily on benefits when they don't actually require them, which is a stereotypical view and not all working class or underclass members of society abuse the welfare system, but rely on it to survive.
An article from the Daily Mail with the headline: "Vile Product of Welfare UK" portrays a man with 17 children as 'vile' and that he 'milked the benefit system'. This article also suggests that his actions against 6 of his children are due to him being from a working class or underclass family. Shildrick and MacDonald (2007) suggest that the poor are undeserving of sympathy because they got themselves into that situation and this particular article from the Daily Mail is a stereotypical portrayal of the working class or the underclass individuals within society. Another example of how mainstream media portray working class and underclass individuals is another article from the Daily Mail with the headline: "75% of incapacity claimants ARE fit to work". This article implies that their view of underclass or working class individuals is that they are lazy, and are abusing the welfare system within the UK. This is a stereotypical view on these classes and not all people from a working class or underclass family are like this.
The Big Issue show a counter stereotype of the working class and underclass individuals, and suggests that underclass and working class individuals need the same help as homeless individuals, through the 'hand up not a hand out' approach. The Big Issue is a left wing aspect of the media, and show individuals of a working class and underclass family to be hard working individuals that are not given the same opportunities as other individuals in society. This is why they take the approach of a 'hand up not a hand out' as this shows other media platforms that homeless individuals are not always archetypes of the typical stereotypes of homelessness, but are individuals that need to get back on their feet and create a better life. British press is dominated by right wing media with newspapers such as the Daily Mail, The Sun and The Telegraph, and people who read these particular newspapers are getting their news solely from these sources, so they are unable to see the opposing side of the argument. The Big Issue, in this particular article, are representing homeless individuals as people who do not get the help and support that they need to stay off the streets, so will end up sleeping rough and turning to drugs in times of need, rather than turning to a support system. The Big Issue listen to homeless people as individuals, as well as treating them as individuals rather than a stereotypical groups. Additionally to this, The Big Issue, they refer to homeless people as part of society, rather than excluding them from it.
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