*Sexuality And Media Flashcards
What did Batchelor find regarding the representation of being gay in mainstream media?
Being gay wasn’t generally integrated into mainstream media representations
When it did appear, it was often portrayed as a source of anxiety, embarrassment, or target for teasing and bullying.
What is symbolic annihilation in the context of media representations of sexuality?
Media representations of sexuality are overwhelmingly heterosexual, contributing to the symbolic annihilation of gays and lesbians through negative stereotyping or lack of portrayal
Gerbner argues that this annihilation reflects societal biases.
What are the four representations of homosexual characters identified by Craig (1992)?
- Campness
- Macho
- Deviant
- Responsible for AIDS
How is campness characterized in media representations of gay individuals?
Reinforces negative views of gay sexuality by presenting a persona that is between male and female
Commonly found in entertainment media.
What does the macho representation exaggerate in gay characters?
Masculinity, often seen as threatening to traditional ideas of masculinity
How are gays often stereotyped in TV dramas?
As deviants, evil, or devious, often defined by the ‘problem’ of their sexuality
This representation constructs homosexuality as morally wrong.
What was the portrayal of gay individuals in British news coverage of AIDS in the 1980s?
Stereotyped as carriers of a gay plague, reflecting mainstream society’s fear and dislike
Watney argues that coverage implied that gay AIDS sufferers were to blame for their condition.
What positive change does Gauntlett suggest regarding media representation of LGBT individuals?
Underrepresentation is slowly changing for the better, with growing tolerance of sexual diversity
According to Dyer (2002), what does the media construct as signs of ‘gayness’?
Stereotypical signs including certain facial expressions, vocal tones, stances, or clothing
What did the Stonewall (2011) research conclude about the LGBT community in media?
They were subjected to symbolic annihilation, often depicted as comedic relief
Particularly true for representations of lesbianism.
What were the findings of Stonewall regarding LGBT representation in 126 hours of TV analyzed?
Only 5 hours and 43 minutes focused on LGBT issues; 46 minutes portrayed them realistically or positively
What is an example of a contemporary show with LGBT characters where sexuality is incidental?
Several examples exist, showing that sexuality is only part of the character’s identity
What percentage of series regular characters were LGBT according to GLAAD’s 2019 report?
8.8% of series regular characters were LGBT
What significant trends were noted in GLAAD’s 2019 report compared to previous years?
An increase of 2.4% points from the previous year’s 6.4%, the highest percentage since 2005-06
What was the gender breakdown of LGBT characters in GLAAD’s report?
- 42% were gay men
- 25% were lesbian
- 29% were Bi+ characters
- 4% were transgender characters
