Abstract

The white working-class demographic exists in the United States at the intersection of classed and racial identities. Class and race are social constructs which profoundly affect individuals’ biographies, the ways in which individuals relate to society, and the ways in which society relates to an individual. One way society relates itself to individuals is through media portrayals. This study focuses on media portrayals of the white working-class and the ways in which various media modalities cover that demographic. Through a qualitative content analysis of television transcripts of Fox News and CNN programs, this research examines themes of media portrayals of the white working-class as Trump voters, geographically situated, markers of a Democratic Party in decline, culturally distinct, and working-class coalition members. By engaging with sociological theorists such as Todd Gitlin, Robert Entman, Shanto Iyengar, Patricia Hill-Collins, and Kimberle Crenshaw, this study contextualizes media portrayals of the white working-class and offers insight into dominant media frames and construction of class and racial identities on network news.

Advisor

Miyawaki, Michael

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

Mass Communication | Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies | Race and Ethnicity | Social Influence and Political Communication

Keywords

white working-class, working-class white, white working-class people, working-class white people, blue-collar

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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