The pervasiveness of media in the recent years has brought about serious discussion regarding media representations of various groups. There is no question that media affects the way its audience view a particular reality that is presented. As Molloy said, “the media has a huge opportunity and responsibility to shape culture” (1). This is evident in media’s queer representation, which has evolved over time. Gone are the days when queer characters on television and films were a rarity. Queer representation in the media has become more complex and diverse than in the past (Gauntlett 90). More than the sexuality of queer people, their race, age, socioeconomic status, culture and gender performativity, among other aspects of their lives, are
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One of the most important functions of representation in media is giving visibility, especially to a group that may be considered a “minority”. Queer representation in media acknowledges the existence of queer people in the real world and giving them a voice. According to Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president and CEO, “We are now producing some of the best LGBT-inclusive programming we've yet seen” (qtd by Raftery 1).
An example would be Orange is the New Black’s Sophia, a transgender woman in prison. Sophia is a representation of transgender people who are discriminated because of their gender identity. The show narrates that, while she is allowed to be confined in a women’s prison, she is still a victim of transphobia as shown by her ostracism and her being deprived of her hormonal dosages (Reddy 9). Through the character of Sophia, the show reflects the real issues and problems that beset transgender …show more content…
On the positive side, it has influenced society on their openness to the LGBT community. In a study by Jeremiah Garrettson titled, “Exposure to the Lives of Lesbians and Gays and the Origin of Young People’s Greater Support for Gay Rights, published in International Journal of Public Opinion Research, he found that “increased exposure to queer people, including through fictional characters in media, influences attitudes toward queer people, particularly among youth; and that such group attitude shifts in turn impact support for gay-rights policies” (par.3). On the other hand, despite such openness, there still exists controversy and heated debates that cause divisiveness among social groups, as it is still a sensitive issue, particularly on religious grounds. For instance, Bryan Fischer, former director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association criticized Degrassi’s portrayal of a transgender character. He called it “socially irresponsible” and that it “manipulates vulnerable children who may easily be desensitized to perverse behavior if it is positively portrayed in television” (qtd by Ziv, para. 22). Negative opinions from other social groups can be assumed by the significant amount of protests with the recent passage of marriage equality in the United
One of the most important functions of representation in media is giving visibility, especially to a group that may be considered a “minority”. Queer representation in media acknowledges the existence of queer people in the real world and giving them a voice. According to Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president and CEO, “We are now producing some of the best LGBT-inclusive programming we've yet seen” (qtd by Raftery 1).
An example would be Orange is the New Black’s Sophia, a transgender woman in prison. Sophia is a representation of transgender people who are discriminated because of their gender identity. The show narrates that, while she is allowed to be confined in a women’s prison, she is still a victim of transphobia as shown by her ostracism and her being deprived of her hormonal dosages (Reddy 9). Through the character of Sophia, the show reflects the real issues and problems that beset transgender …show more content…
On the positive side, it has influenced society on their openness to the LGBT community. In a study by Jeremiah Garrettson titled, “Exposure to the Lives of Lesbians and Gays and the Origin of Young People’s Greater Support for Gay Rights, published in International Journal of Public Opinion Research, he found that “increased exposure to queer people, including through fictional characters in media, influences attitudes toward queer people, particularly among youth; and that such group attitude shifts in turn impact support for gay-rights policies” (par.3). On the other hand, despite such openness, there still exists controversy and heated debates that cause divisiveness among social groups, as it is still a sensitive issue, particularly on religious grounds. For instance, Bryan Fischer, former director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association criticized Degrassi’s portrayal of a transgender character. He called it “socially irresponsible” and that it “manipulates vulnerable children who may easily be desensitized to perverse behavior if it is positively portrayed in television” (qtd by Ziv, para. 22). Negative opinions from other social groups can be assumed by the significant amount of protests with the recent passage of marriage equality in the United