Working-class Heroes: ABC's 'The Heights' and Social Stratification

Touted as a televisual triumph for diversity and representation, The Heights is an ensemble soap opera depicting the bonds and burdens of an inner-city working-class community. While this is undeniably praiseworthy in a screen landscape largely bereft of such visibility, the series does also fall into the trap of sanitising the grittier aspects of social disadvantage, writes Travis Johnson.

Additional keywords:
stereotype, wealth, poverty, migrant, queer, LGBT, social housing.