4.3 LGBTQ+ representation and feminist perspectives

LGBTQ+ representation in TV has come a long way, but there's still room for growth. From stereotypical portrayals to positive visibility, media shapes our understanding of queer identities and experiences. It's not just about including queer characters, but how they're portrayed.

Queer theory challenges traditional ideas about gender and sexuality, emphasizing fluidity and social construction. This perspective helps us understand the complexities of LGBTQ+ representation in media and how it intersects with other aspects of identity, like race and class.

Queer Theory and Identity

Understanding Queer Theory

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• Queer theory is a field of critical theory that challenges traditional notions of gender and sexuality, emphasizing the fluidity and social construction of these categories
• Explores how gender and sexual identities are shaped by social, cultural, and historical factors rather than being fixed or inherent
• Questions the binary divisions of male/female and heterosexual/homosexual, arguing for a more complex understanding of identity
• Examines how power structures and societal norms reinforce and perpetuate certain gender and sexual identities while marginalizing others

Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

• Gender identity refers to a person's internal sense of their own gender, which may or may not align with the sex they were assigned at birth (cisgender, transgender, non-binary)
• Sexual orientation describes a person's emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to others (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual)
• Queer theory emphasizes that gender identity and sexual orientation exist on a spectrum and can be fluid, rather than being fixed or binary categories
• Recognizes the diversity of gender identities and sexual orientations, including those that fall outside of traditional categories (genderqueer, genderfluid, demisexual)

Performativity and Queer Coding

• Gender performativity, a concept introduced by Judith Butler, suggests that gender is not an inherent identity but rather a series of repeated acts and behaviors that create the appearance of a stable gender
• Argues that gender is something we "do" rather than something we "are," and that these performances are shaped by societal norms and expectations
• Queer coding refers to the practice of portraying characters with traits or behaviors that suggest they are queer without explicitly stating their identity
• Often used in media to hint at a character's queerness without directly addressing it, which can be seen as a form of erasure or a way to include queer representation without alienating mainstream audiences (Ursula in "The Little Mermaid," Richie Tozier in "It")

Representation in Media

Visibility and Stereotypes

• Visibility refers to the inclusion and representation of queer characters and stories in media, which can help to increase awareness and acceptance of queer identities
• However, queer representation in media has often been limited, stereotypical, or negative, perpetuating harmful tropes and misconceptions about queer people
• Common stereotypes include the "gay best friend," the "tragic queer character," and the "predatory lesbian," which reduce queer characters to one-dimensional caricatures
• Stereotypical representation can be damaging, as it reinforces negative attitudes towards queer people and fails to capture the diversity and complexity of queer experiences

Tokenism and Positive Representation

• Tokenism occurs when a queer character is included in a story solely for the sake of diversity, without being fully developed or integrated into the narrative
• Token queer characters are often relegated to minor roles, lack depth and agency, and may be subject to stereotypical portrayal or queer-baiting (hinting at queerness without actual representation)
• Positive representation, on the other hand, involves portraying queer characters as complex, multi-dimensional individuals whose identities are an integral part of their story but not their sole defining feature
• Positive representation can help to normalize and validate queer experiences, provide role models for queer audiences, and promote understanding and acceptance of queer identities ("Love, Simon," "Orange is the New Black," "Pose")

GLAAD Media Awards and Queer-Baiting

• The GLAAD Media Awards, presented by GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of the LGBTQ+ community and the issues that affect their lives
• The awards aim to encourage and celebrate positive queer representation in media, across various categories such as film, television, journalism, and advertising
• Queer-baiting is a marketing tactic that hints at queer representation or relationships to attract queer audiences without actually depicting them, often to avoid alienating non-queer audiences
• This practice is criticized for exploiting queer audiences and perpetuating the erasure of queer identities in media, as it fails to deliver genuine representation (Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in "Sherlock," Kara Danvers and Lena Luthor in "Supergirl")

Social and Cultural Contexts

Intersectionality and Heteronormativity

• Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, refers to the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender, and how they create overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage
• Queer theory recognizes that queer identities intersect with other marginalized identities, and that queer people who are also people of color, working-class, or disabled may face unique challenges and forms of oppression
• Heteronormativity is the belief that heterosexuality is the default, normal, or preferred sexual orientation, and that gender operates as a binary (male/female)
• Heteronormativity perpetuates the marginalization of queer identities by assuming that everyone is or should be heterosexual and cisgender, and by privileging heterosexual relationships and gender conformity

Coming Out Narratives

• Coming out narratives refer to the stories and experiences of queer people disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity to others
• These narratives often involve themes of self-discovery, struggle, and acceptance, and can be powerful tools for raising awareness and promoting understanding of queer experiences
• However, coming out narratives can also be limiting, as they may reinforce the idea that queer identities are something to be "revealed" or "confessed," rather than being a natural and valid part of one's identity
• Queer theory critiques the notion of "coming out" as a singular, linear process, recognizing that queer people may come out multiple times throughout their lives, or may choose not to come out at all due to safety or personal reasons ("Love, Simon," "Pariah," "Nanette")