1. Representations of sexuality in
the media
To understand how sexuality is
represented by mass media
To evaluate changes in media
representations of sexuality

2. Topical Teaser
• Do reality TV programmes like ‘My Transsexual
Summer’ educate and encourage empathy or is it
another ‘freak show’?

3. Representations of gay parenting has
gone mainstream
• A popular US sitcom ‘Modern Family’ has
been used as an example of acceptance of
same sex families
• The film ‘The Kids are Alright’ was made by
Hollywood for a mainstream audience
• Gay tv and films continue to push the
boundaries with ‘Orange is the New Black’ and
‘Blue is the warmest colour’

4. Sexuality: a gay-friendly media?
• Dyer (2002) argues representations of male
homosexuality in the media is dominated by camp
(depiction of gays as effeminate, mincing men with
high voices) characters who make fun of the serious
and respectable
• You have 3 minutes to brainstorm recent films and TV
programmes that feature gay characters – how are
these portrayed?
• Although such characters are slightly subversive/edgy
they are also a safe form of sexual stereotype,
unchallenging to traditional masculinity – does Dyer
have a point?
• What is the research method you are using here in
order to evaluate?

5. Do you agree with Dyer?
Where are the
gay women
presenters on UK
TV?

6. How far have representations of
sexuality in the media moved on?
Do films like ‘Brokeback Mountain
and ‘Weekend’
And TV series like the L word prove
that the media has moved on?

7. Gays are also seen as an example of
‘carnival’ (fun)
• There are many comic roles played by gay actors
which are very popular like Alan Carr. Drag
queens like ‘Dame Edna’ carry on the pantomime
tradition.
• Are these well worn stereotypes harmful?

8. Is it inclusion or tokenism?
• Is the media responding to legislative pressure to
portray gay and transgendered people in a non-discriminatory
way?
• Is the media including gay and transgendered
people as tokens because it has to?
• Is the media reflecting more tolerant and liberal
attitudes towards gay and transgendered people?
• Is the media helping to blaze a trail for gay rights?
• Use your skills of evaluation and analysis to justify
the point of view you most agree with and use
evidence to strengthen your argument
• Be ready to peer assess your answers!

9. Other media depictions
have been more
negative.........
• In the 1980’s most of the media’s attention to gay
issues was directed at AIDS
• The Sun newspaper headlined it ‘the gay plague’
• Homosexuality as a threat is a common
stereotype ‘poofters’ ‘big girls blouse’ ‘queers’
‘faggots’ ‘arse bandit’
• Is this a hangover from homophobic attitudes in
the 1950’s and early 1960’s when it was a crime
to be homosexual?

10. In recent years TV drama and films
have been more realistic.....
• Brookside and Friends have featured lesbian
relationships in a sympathetic way and Eastenders has
featured major homosexual characters
• However, the plots tend to focus on homosexuality as a
problem and on gays coming to terms with their
sexuality
• Homosexual characters are constructed for a
heterosexual audience and viewed through a
heterosexual gaze (homosexual issues are presented
by the media from a heterosexual viewpoint)
• Male homosexuals are often white and middle class –
where are all the ordinary gay folk?

11. Queer as Folk - 1999 TV Series
• This TV series was ground-breaking in its
treatment of homosexuality
• The main characters were young, stylish and gay,
sex was explicit and the gay characters far from
nice
• Russell Davies, the gay creator of the series
argued that the series showed that gay
representations in the media ‘had grown up’ –
gays could now be selfish and bad.....real people
• Do you think this was a necessary step in order to
combat gay stereotypes?

12. So what about lesbians?
• Lesbianism has received less attention from the
media than gay men
• There are stock characters – dungaree-wearing,
man-hating, hairy-legged dykes
• Lesbian relationships are implicit rather than
explicit – Why?
• Xena, Warrior Princess has a ‘special’ relationship
with her young female companion Gabrielle
relying on the audience to interpret this as they
wish –some saw lesbianism, some saw an
adventure story

13. Why so little lesbian exposure in the
media?
• Perhaps the limited portrayal of lesbianism has
reflected the threat it poses to concepts of
traditional masculinity – how far would you agree
with this view?
• A distinct and popular genre of pornography
features lesbian sex for the gratification of men
• Even ‘ground-breaking’ films such as Kissing
Jessica Stein feature images that have nothing to
do with the way lesbians perceive each other and
more to do with male heterosexual fantasies

14. But times are changing!
• Series such as The L Word show that explicit lesbian
issues can now be sold to heterosexuals so this makes
the topic a viable option for TV programmers and film
companies
• Do you think this reflects societal attitudes towards
lesbians?
• Is it fashionable to be a ‘lipstick lesbian’?
• How far do trends affect media representations of
sexuality?
• Mainstream films have even featured lesbian
relationships as a part of family life in ‘The Kids are
Alright’

15. Analysis and Evaluation of source
material
• Read the article ‘Gay roles on television need
to be real’
• Identify what you think are the three main
points of the argument
• Evaluate whether this article argues these
points convincingly
• Analyse if there is enough evidence to justify
the claims made in the article

16. Is there ever going to be a time when
gay is part of the norm?
• Why is the media continuing to highlight a
person’s sexuality?
• Klein (2000) argues that increasing diversification
of society has been recognised by the media
because it is forced to follow public sentiment
rather than pass judgement
• Is there now a new genre of films and
programmes that show everyday gay life rather
than concentrating on gay issues (e.g. ‘Milk’ and
‘Brokeback Mountain’)

17. What about advertising?
• Have you seen many
advertisements that
feature gay couples rather
than heterosexual?
• Do you think the ‘pink
pound’ will pressurise
advertisers to target gays
as part of mainstream
advertising campaigns?
• Since being gay became
profitable some
sociologists have argued it
became acceptable
• How far would you agree
with this?
Have you seen this
advert in the UK yet?

18. How far does the internet make a
difference to the portrayal of
sexuality?
• ‘How far’ is a ‘command’ word for longer answer
examination questions
• What is ‘how far’ asking you to do?
• To answer ‘how far’ needs skills of analysis and
evaluation
• You have 5 minutes to write a paragraph that answers
the above question
• Use your knowledge and understanding of the
following: citizen journalism and independent media,
social networking sites, you tube, blogs

19. Make a plan!
• Using the notes from this power point you are going to
share a mini essay plan that would answer this
question:
• How far have media depictions of gay characters and
issues changed in recent years? (33 marks)
• Bullet points needed for: Introduction, main body of
the essay where content is analysed and evaluated,
concluding comments
• We will spend 5 minutes on each section of the essay
• Every person needs to write one bullet point for each
section
• We will use these points to make an individual plan

20. What should you include:
• Theories of mass media effects – briefly (e.g.
Hypodermic syringe, uses and gratifications, decoding,
reception theory)
• Usefulness of stereotypes for the media - briefly
• How stereotypes are linked to labelling - briefly
• Social construction and hegemony
• Descriptions of evidence relating to the media and
sexuality and evaluation of these
• Linking content of media to advertising
• How far media representation follows societal changes
• Postmodernist perspective regarding a variety of
identities and lifestyle choices