Media Representations of Sexuality PDF

Preview

Summary

LECTURE NOTES ON MEDIA REP OF SEXUALITY IN SOCIETY...

Description

Media Representations of Sexuality Batchelor et al. (2004) carried out a media content analysis to examine how sexuality is represented. They discovered that some aspects of sexuality were represented positively in terms of publishing sexual health information, exploring issues like consent and being ‘ready’ to have sex. The findings also suggest 3 important limitations in media coverage of young people’s sexuality: ❏ Contraception was represented as a woman’s responsibility. ❏ Distinct differences in how young men and women in media texts talked, felt about and acted, in relation to crime. E.g. Girls were portrayed as being more interested in emotions whilst males were more interested in sex.

Representations of lesbians, gays, bisexuality and transexuals (LGBT) ❏ Media representations of sexuality are overwhelmingly hetereosxual. ❏ Batchelor et al. found that being gay was not integrated into mainstream media representations. When they did appear they were represented mainly as a source of anxiety or embarrassment, or seen as a target for bullying. In mainstream media for young people, lesbians were “completely invisible.” ❏ Dyer (2002) “a major fact about being gay is that it doesn’t show.. The person’s person alone doesn’t show that her or she is gay.” The media construct stereotypical “signs of gayness”, such as stances, clothing and vocal tics. ❏ If a person (heterosexual / homosexual) demonstrates these “signs of gayness” they may be labelled ‘gay’ by peers. ❏ Craig (1999) identifies three media signifiers of gayness that are common in media representations of homosexuality: 1. Camp - widely used gay representation. Characters are flamboyant, colourful, fun. Heterosexual audiences don’t see camp characters as threatening. Mainly in entertainment media. Reinforces negative views of gay sexuality by being somewhere in between male and female. 2. Macho - popularised by pop group The Village People. Stereotype relies on exaggerating masculinity. An openly sexual look that transforms practical male clothing (e.g. helmet) into erotic symbols. This media

representation is regarded as threatening because it subverts traditional ideas of masculinity. 3. Deviant - Gays are often stereotyped as deviants by media representations. They may be portrayed as evil / devious in TV. They are rarely presented in sympathetic manners and when they are the plot focuses on heterosexual characters’ acceptance of their homosexuality. Homosexuality is often constructed to appear morally wrong. Stonewall (2011) The LGBT community is undergoing symbolic annihilation like women. LGBT’s are frequently consigned to the status of comedic relief. Particularly with lesbianism, they are over -sexualised and exoctic decoration to titillate male viewers. 5 hours 43 minutes / 126 hours of programming aimed at young people focused on LGBT - related issues or characters. Only 46 minutes of this coverage portrayed them positively. BBC Survey (2010) lesbians complained they were portrayed in narrow ways: ‘butch’ or ‘lipstick lesbians’. Media representations of transgender characters on American television has increased. E.g. Glee, Orange is The New Black, Ugly Betty. The power of the ‘pink economy’ has been recognised by advertisers. Many gay people are professionals with no dependants therefore they have large disposable incomes. Companies have marketed towards gay consumers through gay - positive advertising and marketing campaigns. Alternatively, there’s little sign the UK popular pres is providing balanced and neutral coverage of LGBT issues. In right - wing press, homosexuality is consistently presented as wicked, sinful and unnatural. Space is often given to commentators critical of gay lifestyles.

The LGBT community & new media ❏ Representation of LGBT’s on new media is more positive since much of the content is user generated. ❏ LGBT organisations and sights have constructed hundreds of sites that offer advice and support. ❏ Social media (e.g. Twitter) has been used to generate support for same - sex marriage. ❏ University of Alberta research suggests highlights the downside of the fact social media is user generated. 56.5 million homophobic tweets in 2012 - 2015. Conclusion = Increase in positive LGBT representation but there’s still a long way to go before sexualities are portrayed in way that aren’t stereotypical or judgemental.

1980’s HIV / AIDS Moral Panic

❏ ❏ ❏ ❏

❏ Moral panic created in the media. ❏ Media outlets nicknamed HIV/AIDS the “gay plague” ❏ Illness negatively viewed as caused / passed by the gay community ❏ When the above was debunked, the moral panic was changed to blaming the younger generation’s ethical negligence. In the 90s the folk devils became “uncivilised Africans” after the popular theory the origin of AIDS was humans having sex with monkeys. “AIDS sells more newspapers than bingo”. AIDS was seen as a punishment for (homosexual) promiscuity. http://www.gayinthe80s.com/2014/04/1980s-hivaids-why-was-aids-called-the-gayplague/...