sexuality

• traditionally, homosexuality has been either stereotyped or completely absent from mainstream media
• Batchelor


  • heterosexuality - normal
  • homosexuality - unusual
  • found that when gay representations did appear in the mainstream media, they weren’t generally ‘integrated’ into plot lines, but rather gayness was part of the plot, seen as a source of anxiety, or as a target of teasing or bullying.
• dyer


  the media have constructed stereotypical signs of ‘gayness’ which include certain facial expressions, vocal tones, stances or clothing.
• Craig - 3 media signifiers of gayness

  1. camp - he ‘flamboyant figure of fun’ – a ‘non threatening’ representation of gayness
  2. macho - An openly sexual look which exaggerates aspects of traditional masculinity
  3. deviant -  gay people are portrayed as evil or devious, possibly as sexual predators or who feel guilty about their sexuality e.g Adam from sex education
• stonewall

  • analysed 126 hours of tv shows
  • 5 hours and 43 minutes focused on LGBT related issues or characters
  • 46 minutes portrayed them realistically or positively.
  • found that the LGBT community were being subjected to symbolic annihilation. 
  • characters used as comic relief
  • particularly with representations of lesbianism - frequently presented as over-sexual and exotic for male gaze
• lgbt community and new media

  • generally more positive representations than mainstream media - as content is user-generated
  • e.g Facebook highlighted its support for LGBT community with 'celebrate pride' rainbow filter in 2015
• stonewall - 2018 documentary 


  LGBT charity

  launched its BAME LGBTQ voices documentary series to give more a voice/ presence to the diverse range of ethnicities and sexualities which are often under-represented in mainstream media,
• new media can be used by lgbt activists to challenge negative representations in mainstream media
• new media also provides opportunities for lgbt communities to connect with others like themselves
• new media allows lgbt individuals to create their own identities online
• Association with HIV/AIDS.

  • 1980s, reporting of HIV/AIDS focused strongly on the gay community and further supported a stereotype of gay men being particularly promiscuous.
  • AIDS was reported on in a less sympathetic way in relation to gay men than for other sufferers, in a sense suggesting that they had brought the disease upon themselves.