How Heteronormativity And Media Stereotypes On Queer People Express Their Sexualities

The representation of the LGBT community in the film industry has long been a topic of much debate. In her article, “It Ain’t Easy Being Bisexual on TV,” Amy Zimmerman addresses this topic with specific interest on bisexual representation. By appealing to the logic of her audience, using an informal tone, and referring to relatable content, Zimmerman constructs an argument which persuades readers of The Daily Beast that the film industry is unfairly and inaccurately representing bisexuals. However, her argument holds little influence over those who are not movie fans or The Daily Beast readers.

Heterosexism, according to Warren J. Blumenfeld, is the system of advantages given to heterosexuals based on the social construct of gender roles and heterosexual norms, while marginalizing and oppressing homosexuals and others who do not fit into the heterosexual culture (373). The enforcement of this system is known as heteronormality. This is seen in the binary system, which is a social construct that divides people into different strictly bordered categories organized by “social roles, values, stereotypes, and behavioral and attitudinal imperatives, expressions, and expectations” (Blumenfeld 373). Those who stick to the binary system, maintain power and privilege. People who may live in the binary system, but also intentionally

In Stephen Mays’ essay “What about Gender Roles in Same-sex Relationships?” published in They Say I Say, the author discusses how people often assign gender roles automatically, even with gay and lesbian couples. Mays stresses the concept of femininity and masculinity, and also shows the difference in their roles, supports them with vivid imagery, and gives a rare example of gay male preferences, all while using the correct diction when referring to personal experiences. Although the author reiterates gender roles and their effect on same-sex relationships, he gives clear examples that support the idea of masculine or feminine qualities.

In a systemically patriarchal society that encourages and enforces the gender binary, we as a public are conditioned to accept and cooperate with the heteronormative paradigm. Pop-culture and the media are large contributors in the ways in which the gender binary is perpetuated. Gender norms are constantly marketed towards

In today’s society, men and women are confronted with gender stereotypes daily. In the texts Ten Things I Hate about You, The Big Bang Theory, I’m Glad I’m a Boy! I’m Glad I’m a Girl! By Whitney Darrow and ‘Stupid Girls’ by Pink, the roles of men and women are perceived in different ways. Some characters in each text challenge the typical stereotype whilst others accept it.

There are various perceptions of gay and lesbian couples that they represent a more egalitarian relationship. (Civettini 2015:1) However, when same-sex couples are observed there is still a tendency to believe that the relationship contains a masculine and feminine figure following the heterosexual model. So, it is necessary to address both how these couples deviate from society’s norms as gay individuals but might still be reproducing the same behaviors as heterosexual couples because the ideologies are so deeply rooted in social institutions. The stereotypical connotations of masculinity and femininity influence all aspects of American society and gender display relies heavily on meeting those given expectations. So, in the case of this article, the author Civettini views a connection between sex, gender, and sexual orientation when it comes to displaying

Gay male culture is by far the most talked about among the LGBTQI community — it has been talked about greatly by the media. And, arguably, it is the most influential. In politics, social values, and peoples’ perceptions, the gay male culture has changed the way many think of the gay community, and the LGBTQI community as a whole. Queer, fag, bear, twink: gay men promptly made their voices heard. After Massachusetts become the first state to legalize gay marriage, and the entire United Sates following nearly 10 years later, gays have instantly became a “sensation” of sorts.

Sexual orientationism is best described as discrimination or prejudice against homosexuals on the assumption that heterosexuality is the dominant, or normal, sexual orientation. Within society there are many barriers, assumptions, and stigmas placed upon the queer community, numerous of which steam from this heterosexist stance that has become the dominant ideology. This stance has historical significance in trauma, and oppression of those within the sexual minority, and how this can play on representation.

Heteronormativity constructs heterosexual assumptions of gender and sex as an ideal and moral imperative, cooperating with and sustaining systems of power (Berlant and Warner 1998; Sharma 1999). Systems of power create a hierarchy within heteronormativity, doling privilege to some and marginalizing others. This hierarchy is present in homosexual communities as well. Norms within the homosexual community marginalize other kids of sex, gender, and sexuality difference (Stryker 2008). Using Butler’s concept of gender performativity illustrates the way that repetitive performances of gender leads to social coherency. Unable to attain heteronormative standards as lesbians, the couples conform to heteronormative standards in several key ways. Through the promotion of a homonormative-domestic discourse, producers tame the otherwise deviant sexual subjects to render them non-threatening to a straight audience, with a broader political impact that depoliticizes and demobilizes the LGBTQ population (Duggan 2002; Erhart 2013; Warner 2000). In adhering these key standards of heterosexual culture, a homonormative portrayal of lesbian motherhood emerges.

When something is so prevalent in society it becomes the hard to see its influence. Heteronormativity has such effect which Lauren Berlant and Micheal Warner discuss in “Sex in Public.”. “Heteronormativity is more that ideology, or prejudice, or phobia against gays and lesbians; it is produced in almost every aspect of the forms and arrangements of social life; nationality, the state, and the law; commerce; medicine; and education” (Berlant, Warner, 554). It imposes

The literal definition of the word “queer” according to the Oxford dictionary is strange, or odd. The definition, however, after its adaption by the feminist and alternate sexual orientations movements has gained a much broader frame of understanding. Some suggest that “queer” is a word that defines a situation or circumstance and not a person. There have even been people to propound, as an extension, that by this definition, everyone is in some part or the other “queer”.(1) my concentration will be limited to defining “queer” in spectrums of sexual orientation and gender identity, with a specific exploration of class, space and inclusivity.

Numerous straight men appear to think homosexual women exist purely for their pleasure and entertainment. Making the sexuality of those women seem less valid or not valid at all. Not only must women have to deal with this, but in the article “Who’s the Man?” published by The Guardian the gender divide people in same-sex relationships face is discussed. Usually, when there is a same-sex relationship the question many people over the years ask is “Who is the man in the relationship?” that question referring to who is the more masculine role or is in more control. This is often more prominent in female same-sex relationships. Both articles appear to show that there is an inequality in the stereotypes and mistreatment men and women of the LGBT+ community, but women are affected more than men. This is simply not true; men and women face the same inequality when it comes to their sexual orientation. Bros over Hos hints at the idea that men must act or look a certain way and they’ll be considered a homosexual. While young men were asked, what would suggest a man is a homosexual, they responded with: “He’s

Queer theory questions creations of normal and divergent, insider, and outsider.2 Queer theorists analyse a situation or a text to determine the relationship between sexuality, power and gender. Queer theory challenges basic tropes used to organize our society and our language: even words are gendered, and through that gendering an elliptical view of the hierarchy of society, and presumption of what is male and what is female, shines through. Queer theory rejects such binary distinctions as arbitrarily determined and defined by those with social power. It works to deconstruct these binaries, particularly the homosexual/heterosexual binary.4

Media and its representation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual (LGBT) themes has been prevalent throughout time. According to the collections of studies and stories by Meem, Mitchell and Jonathan (2010) concerning LGBT individuals, it is important to represent such themes because it is able to enlighten people on how our society as a whole, has become dynamic. The Media can be seen as a “central source” where negative perceptions can be created. As a result, stereotypes can be either created or perpetuated about this group, negative or otherwise. Media as a medium, therefore, is an extremely powerful tool in our society, and can be used to change or create people 's perceptions about this particular segment of our world (LGBT).

Gender and sexual orientation is a topic that has been and still today is not talked about in such a way it should be because of how society has chosen to structure and control it. Social stratification is a system in which groups of people are divided up into layers according to their relative privileges (power, property, and prestige). It’s a way of ranking large groups of people into a hierarchy according to their relative privileges (Vela-McConnell 2016). People, who deviate from the norm of the “accepted” gender and sexual orientation that society has placed upon us, are stratified below the norm of a dominating binary gender and sexual orientation. People who are queer face the struggle of mistreatment and an unaccepting society that has been socialized to see and act on gender and sexual orientation to being a dualistic system.