Representation of Sexuality

Sexual orientation is a pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, both genders, neither gender, or another gender.

Sexual Identity in TV Drama

Can you tell theirs?

Many gay-themed movies have made their way into the lime-light and gay characters are popping up in dozens of mainstream movies e.g. Brokeback Mountain Many media outlets portray gay men as overly effeminate The belief that all gay men desire to be women or are feminine. Gay loved ones are condemned to a life alone without children Mothers in retrospect regret being too close to their sons, thinking that is what "made" them gay. Drifting from one sexual liason to another, they end up old and alone. Gay people are flamboyant , feminine characters. All gay men will die of AIDS Represented as often feared, pitied or being the subject of laughter The idea is that its just a phrase. Gay men are only concerned with sex Gay men do professions like fashions, material design and hair styling Gay women do jobs such as sports and military and are butch Lesbians commonly represented as pursuing heterosexual women. Gay men and women are often depicted as suffering family rejection

Homosexual representation

In the 50s...
People saw homosexuality as if it were a disease. They had television adverts warning young boys to beware of homosexuals; in the advert a gay man is in a car and makes a young man get in. There is a voiceover of people saying that you should beware of homosexual men as they are predators and groom young boys.

How could sexual identity be represented? How can you position them against each other?

What do they look like? Wear? Sound like? Do for a living? How do they behave?

Sexual Identity

1. Homosexual man Vs Heterosexual man 3. Homosexual woman Vs Hetrosexual woman Consider linking the micro elements how would you represent this identity?

Stereotypical?

Stereotypes of homosexuals
What is the stereotypical representation of a homosexual? How might a homosexual be juxtaposed by a hetrosexual?

How is sexual identity represented through the 4 micro elements?

Sophie and Sian Coronation Street

Homosexuality on TV

Stereotypes about Bisexuals

People deny that bisexuality is real They are confused, undecided, dabblers, insecure, experimenting or just going through a phase. People are either gay, straight or lying They are promiscuous They are greedy

Stereotypes about Heterosexuals

They are always monogamous It is the norm There is nothing at all wrong with heterosexuality Male partners are the abusers Straight couples always have children

Is There Truth In This Representation?

Gay women are often but not always manly or butch. They can dress and act like men and this is the way that they are often represented in the media. Gay men are often very camp in reality; they can speak with a lisp and be interested in fashion. Although this stereotype is less relevant as metrosexual men are appearing straight men who are womanly and care about their appearance. Straight couples who get married more often than not go on to have children and stay together for a long time but this isnt always true; straight couples have a high rate of infidelity and divorce.