The Media, Minorities, And Modern Times
Throughout history, those people who did not fit the mainstream "norm" of their time were excluded, disapproved of, and even killed. In today's modern society, while there are still many people suffering from the fact that they do not cleanly fit into a certain category, or a social norm, it has certainly become easier in most cases, an example being through the media. The media has not only begun to incorporate minorities, but has begun to respect and admire them. The way the media portrays a "normal" lifestyle has begun to include people who do not follow the traditional route when it comes to gender, sexuality, and lifestyle, such as family. This article lists six examples of the media portraying minorities in a positive light. These examples are ones that have positively attracted attention in popular, mainstream media. While there is still a long way to go, these examples are a great representation of how, in the past few decades alone, media acceptance has quickly risen.
Modern Family
Accepting families with same-sex parents is something that is just beginning to become a norm. While not everyone agrees on it, it has started to become more commonly seen, and has become more prominent throughout the media and politics. The article "Journals of Homosexuality: Volume 48, Issue 1," published in December 2004 by Daryl J. Higgins, talks about men who would hide their homosexuality, choosing to marry women. The studies done for this journal entry showed that most gay men chose to marry women due to social expectancy, religious intolerance, and concern, to name a few. Higgins notes that social concern is one of the biggest reasons why men cannot accept their sexuality. With social concern come personal problems, such as internalized homophobia. Religious intolerance also plays a big role, for if a gay man loves his religion, a religion which bans same-sex relations, he will be more inclined to hide his feeling from others, and feel guilty about himself. Nowadays, same-sex marriages are more widely accepted, and compared to 2004, way more represented in the media. The television show Modern Family is one of the biggest shows on television today, and it is an example of how the media has evolved to include those who were extremely underrepresented just a few years ago. Not only does the show acknowledge that different kinds of family types exist, and are common in today's society, but they chose to make one of those family's a gay couple. When the show began, Mitch and Cam were not struggling with their sexual identity, they were not hiding it from the rest of their family or searching for their approval. They already knew who they were, and so did their family. Right from the beginning, it was seen as a "normal" relationship, with the show focusing on them as a couple, not on secrets and lies. In the show, they eventually adopts a child, Lily, who seems to be growing up just as well as a child with heterosexual parents would. This show has truly grasped the concept of what a "normal family" is like today, and has accepted that there is more than one type. By using the word "modern" they are creating a sort of political statement, acknowledging that today, families like the three represented on the show do exist, and do live relatively similar lives. Cameron (on the left) is big, confident, and emotional. He loves the theater and dressing up as a clown, but he is also a football coach with a really great record. He is seen as more flamboyant than Mitch, but also tougher. Mitch is calm and sarcastic. Compared to Cam, he is more reserved in public. Each character has a bit of both "manliness" and "gayness," which not only make it harder to label them, but make it more realistic. Overall, this show fully accepts the ability for two men to not only marry, but have a family. The fact that this show has been so successful, having broken records and won many awards, proves that society is gearing towards a mindset that is more accepting of all different types of families, not just the old-fashioned, traditional one. Men, and women, no longer feel as strong of a need to hide who they are, and with time, it seems that generations are certainly becoming more accepting of this, and Modern Family has certainly played a big role in that.
Higgins, Daryl J. "Differences Between Previously Married and Never Married ‘Gay’ Men: Family Background, Childhood Experiences and Current Attitudes." Journal of Homosexuality 48.1 (2008): 19-41. Rpt. in London: Routledge, 2004. UF Library. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
Laverne Cox's TIME Magazine Cover
In Leslie Feinberg's book "Transgender Liberation," she challenges what the "norm" is by asking: "who decided what the "norm" should be? Why are some people punished
for their self-expression?" In her article, she acknowledges that the word "gender" has to do with self-expression, not biological anatomy. Using many historic examples, she points out that what a society currently considers to be the "norm" is not what has always been so, thus while some people do fit their "normal" stereotype, and that is ok, it is important to also accept those who do not, because in other times in history, they could have been a perfect representation of what it meant to be "normal." For example, as Feinberg points out, in many ancient societies the transgender community was held in high-esteem. Feinberg shares the story of Billy Tipton, a talented and famous saxophonist during the early 1900's who died due to an ulcer that he did not want to get checked out due to fear of having to expose the fact that he was born a woman. It is important to not place as much emphasis on one aspect of a person when choosing how to define them, such as on their biological sex. For example, although a group of people may all be transgender, that does not mean that they are all alike in every way, or that this quality should completely define who they are, or become more important than many of their other traits. Just like males can and do vary greatly from other males, so do transgendered people. Out of fear of being ridiculed or injured, many transgendered people take part in "passing," hiding who they are, and being unable to freely express themselves. They are "passing" in order to save their lives, and it should not be that way. In today's media, transgendered people are still one of the most unrepresented communities, but the few who do show up in the media are not only well-known, but seen and portrayed in a positive light. An example is Laverne Cox, a male-to-female transgender. Cox has slowly become the face of the transgender movement. She is seen as inspiring, classy, educated, and beautiful. In the hit show "Orange is the New Black," where Cox instantly made a name for herself, she plays Sophia, a smart, poised, transgender woman. While past movies have portrayed transgender men and women in a negative light, Sophia is an extremely empowering character. She behaves in ways that are "traditionally feminine", proving that although she may not have been born a biological woman, she could have felt like one her entire life. Although she is not only admired due to the fact that she is an example of a transgender woman who acts "normal" by social standards, the ability that she is indeed able to easily transition to life in an all-women's prison and seem like she has always been this way shines a light on a very common, positive side of the transgender lifestyle, one that proves that transgendered people can indeed fit into the new gender they take on. Not only that, but off-screen, she also holds the poise and respect that Sophia does on the show. Cox has quickly become a voice for the LGBT community, done philanthropic work, and spoken out about her life as a transgender woman. She was also named one of the most charitable celebrities in2014.
Feinberg, Leslie. Transgender Liberation: A Movement Whose Time Has Come. N.p.: Routledge, n.d. 205-20. UF Library. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi
In Martha Gever's manuscript "Entertaining Lesbians: Celebrity, Visibility, Personhood, Politics," Gever talks about "the social factors that inform lesbian celebrity." She points out that there has been an increase in the number of lesbian celebrities, giving them, as well as lesbians not in the media, more freedom. She identifies a lesbian celebrity as a woman who is known to be a lesbian, and has openly told people so. In these circumstances, the media is aware of their sexual identity. Gever declares that acceptance of lesbian celebrities in the media began around 1990. To her, lesbian celebrities have a lot to do with power and knowledge, thus leading people, and the media, to be interested in it. When women tell the public they are lesbians, the media usually never fails to report every detail they know, thus giving these women power. For many people, their knowledge on lesbians comes mainly from media, from what the media portrays and for how these lesbian celebrities portray themselves. A few decades ago, lesbian celebrities were not openly gay, giving little for the media to talk about when it came to this topic, and making it seem like rare or non-existent. Nowadays, lesbian celebrities are talked about enough in the media that organizations such as GLAAD exist solely to monitor media, helping see the LGBT community in a positive light. GLAAD aims to hold "the media accountable for the words and images they present." The fact that these women are visible in the media, and most of the time accepted, not only makes it easier for others to begin to accept it, but it translates into political power. Gever mentions Ellen DeGeneres, and how her coming out in 1997 created a "groundbreaking media event." Today, Ellen DeGeneres is easily the face of daytime television. She has not only had her show for over 10 years, but she has also had sitcoms, done stand-up comedy, and become the face of beauty products. She did not enter the media as an "out" lesbian, but looking at the success of her show and her career, it has not hindered her success. She expresses her thoughts, such as her political beliefs, and has a huge backing of many fans. She has been able to have her own daytime show for years, one in which she is able to focus on other parts of herself and Hollywood instead of just the fact that she is a lesbian. The magazine cover used for this point is a great example of how the media is welcoming LBGT communities and how much better it has gotten over the past few decades. This cover does not focus on the fact that they are a lesbian couple, rather it focuses on their home. It demonstrates that two women are indeed allowed to, and do, live a regular lifestyle. This cover understands that their sexual identity does not always have to be a topic of conversation, rather just one of many facts that make up who they are. The media has a lot of power, as do the people they are being talked about. As more women confidently acknowledge and accept their sexual identity, the media begins to follow along. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi break stereotypes by being two lesbians who, besides the fact that they love each other, are very different people. This gives everyone to ability to open their mind and expands their thoughts when it comes to gender identity, realizing that although people try to make it this way, there truly is not one stereotype for each identity.
Gever, Martha. Entertaining Lesbians: Celebrity, Visibility, Personhood, Politics. 2000. MS. City University of New York. UF Library. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
The Stigma Project
Being HIV positive no longer means what it used to. Years ago, it practically guaranteed death. Nowadays, it merely means that there are a few more precautions one needs to take, but for the most part, it does not take away from the lifestyle that the HIV positive community is allowed to live. In the article "Correlates of HIV stigma in HIV-positive women," the authors mention how HIV-positive has changed in its effect on peoples lives, but how many people still choose to see it as something that it no longer is. Considering how HIV has a tendency to be known as "the gay man's" disease, it is interesting to see how this negative stigma also affects women in today's modern society. The authors of this article define the HIV stigma as “the prejudice, discounting, discrediting and discrimination directed at people perceived to have AIDS or HIV, their loved ones and associates and the groups and communities with which they are affiliated.” The negative thoughts and beliefs associated with those who are HIV-positive cause people to label the entirety of a person based on one factor of who they are, a factor that is no longer as big of a life-altering situation as it used to be. Not only are there negative traits associated with being HIV-positive, but these traits can lead the HIV-positive community to develop depression, anxiety, as well as social marginalization and discrimination. The lack of knowledge that people have on today's HIV-positive community creates an extremely wide separation between those who are positive and those who are negative. Many people choose to continue to believe what they learned decades ago, unaware of the advancements made in the HIV field, and unaware of how these advancements have altered the lifestyle of an HIV-positive person for the better. For example, highly active antiretrovital therapy (HAART) not only helps keep the patients body strong, but it can also prevent the transfer of the virus from pregnant mothers to their children. Many people are unaware of this, and see pregnant HIV-positive women as evil or heartless. Being HIV-positive already puts a burden on the HIV-positive community, thus it it important for the HIV-negative community to educate themselves, and there are many ways to do so. The Stigma Project, for example, strives to inform people on how HIV has evolved overtime. It seeks to inform people on the facts such as how those who are HIV positive are now able to manage it and live a normal, full life. It is trying to get rid of the negative effect the words "HIV positive" have on people by making sure they are informed. Anyone can get HIV, regardless of sexuality or race, and sex is not the only way it can happen. A more common example in the media is the movie "Dallas Buyers Club," in which Ron Woodroof, a straight man, becomes diagnosed with HIV. Unaware of much about it, he at first sees the HIV-positive community. Once he realizes he is now a part of that community, he starts going to lengths to keep himself safe and alive, and the rest of the HIV-positive community. He meets Rayon, an extremely kind HIV-positive trans woman, who eventually becomes his best friend. Oblivious to the facts, Woodroof assumed a negative view of the HIV-positive community, but once informed, he learns there is a lot more to it. It is important that society learns to not be so quick to judge, especially when it comes to things they are unaware of. If the HIV-negative community learned a little more about HIV and AIDS, it would alter not only the relationship between both sides, but also the mindset of each.
Wagner, Anne C., Trevor A. Hart, Saira Mohammed, Elena Ivanova, Joanna Wong, and Mona R. Loutfy. "Correlates of HIV Stigma in HIV-positive Women." UF Library. Springer-Verlag, 7 Apr. 2010. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
The Stigma Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
Glee
In chapter four of Kate Bornstein's book "Gender Outlaw," titled " "Naming All The Parts," Bornstein talks about what gender means to her, how strict society is when considering gender, and how much emphasis is placed on a person's gender. Society is very quick to classify people, placing a gender on them, when it is up to individual themselves to decide what gender they want to associate with. When one is born, they are assigned a biological sex, and with that usually the gender that society beliefs corresponds with their biological sex (women and female, man and male). In reality, there are many types of gender, and just because someone looks like a traditional "female" or "male" does not mean they identify that way. When society places a gender on someone, they associate certain traits with them. The male gender tends to be associated with strength, the female gender with gentleness. By being assumed that someone takes on a certain gender, they are pressured to abide by the gender roles that have been socially constructed to that gender. Bornstein focuses on the fact that people are able to and should be completely able to decide their own gender. She acknowledges that there are many more than just two genders, and that people should not be so widely judged based on the gender they decide to take on. Knowing someone's biological sex does not mean one knows their gender, sexual preference, or personality traits. Gender has to do with how the individual feels, not who outsiders believe them to be. Overall, Bornstein points out that she does not have an identity, and she is okay with that. Her personal preferences have to do with desire, not with the gender someone associates themselves with, or with the gender a society places on someone. In the media, an example that strongly supports Bornstein's idea is the television show Glee. Not only is it one of the most successful shows on television, but it is also a show with a very modern modern outlook, full of characters with varied personalities, genders, family type, and sexualities. For example, there's Kurt Hummel, who is gay, and considered by many to be delicate and "feminine." He's into fashion, soft spoken, and has a high-pitched singing voice. Then there's his boyfriend, Blaine Anderson. Blaine is bigger, stronger, and has attracted the attention of both male and female fans. Kurt's mom does not have much of a role in the show, but his dad, Burt Humell, does. Burt is a "manly-man", a mechanic, and yet still loves his son more than anything. Finn Hudson, the star quarterback of the football team, eventually begins to show a big interest in the glee club, and after a while, is able to participate in both the Glee club and the football team. Football coach Shannon Beiste is seen as "masculine," yet we discover throughout the show that she is interested in men. Wade "Unique" Adams is a male-to-female transgender who is extremely confident in herself and is quickly able to feel at home within the Glee club. The list can go on and on, and this is just a glimpse of how diverse and inclusive this show is. It shows all types of lifestyles, and all types of problems that teenagers face. This show truly grasps what Bornstein is trying to say; it is full of varying genders, gender roles, and gender identities. While many characters have a lot in common, they each have something that makes them unique and also challenges social norms on gender.
Bornstein, Kate. "Naming All The Parts." Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us. New York: Routledge, 1994. 21-40. Print
Expanding Minority Success In The Media
Chapter four of Bell Hooks' book "Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black," titled "Feminism, A Transformational Politic," focuses on feminism, as well as a superiority and inferiority that people seem to automatically claim based on a certain trait, whether it be race, gender, or sexual identity. Hooks points out that we live in a world where men are normally expected to be dominant and strong, and expands on the fact that domination, especially patriarchal domination, needs to end. Domination is a constant cycle. When a white man dominates a man of color, he dominates his wife of color, who then dominates their son, continuing a cycle that is to be passed down for decades. Domination also happens within women. White women may feel that they can dominate women of color. When speaking about feminism, women should not shut out ways in which they are different, such as through sexual identity or race, but rather they should acknowledge their differences. Talking about these differences and these different perspectives leads to a smart, informed discussion which both sides benefit from. Hooks defines feminism as "a movement to end sexism and sexist oppression." To her, feminism needs to include men and women. Once both sides understand it, they can work towards a better movement. The same goes with other traits such as gender and race. Everyone, regardless of their classification, needs to begin to acknowledge the differences in people and accept them. Shutting them out does not make them or their trait away, and including these traits leads to a learning experience. Today's media, as compared to a few decades ago, is a lot more inclusive. Everyone has a more equal chance, and the faces that we see on television and newspapers everyday are not just of white men, but of diverse groups of people. All these people are unique, but compared to before, they are able to easily do their job without having so much emphasis placed on their gender, or sexual identity, or even race. Today, people who are considered prominent minorities in the media are well represented, and most of the time, well spoken of. For example, transgender men and women and LGBTQ men and women are being well represented in the media. Many actors and actresses who fit these categories are also starting to play characters that are the opposite of who they are in real life. In the television show How I Met Your Mother, Neil Patrick Harris plays Barney Stetson, a man who is extremely attracted to women, and spends most of his time figuring out ways to date them. In real life, Neil has a male partner and two kids. Geena Rocero, a male-to-female transgender, was a model for many years before she opened up about having been born a male. She works with the very successful modeling agency Next Management, and mentions how many of the people she worked for were shocked to learn that she was born a male, due to how feminine and beautiful she is. She became the face of Marriott International's campaign #LoveTravels, a campaign to make everyone feel comfortable with who they are, especially when they travel. Anderson Cooper, an American journalist, is trusted by many Americans to deliver accurate news every day. He is gay, he is a respected and successful journalist, and he is able to do his job without being compromised due to his sexual preference. He is able to focus on his work, not letting himself be identified by one trait, out of many. As Hooks points out, it is a group effort. Being a feminist not only means supporting women, it means supporting all different characteristics that women come with, as well as including men in this movement.
Hooks, Bell. "Feminism: A Transformational Politic." Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black. Boston, MA: South End, 1989. 19-27. Print.
Overall, the media has easily adjusted to modern times. Although it sways the public, it is also swayed by them, with decisions having a lot to do with public thought. While advertisements and magazines used to speak about things such as different types of genders, different types of sexualities, and different types of lifestyles in a negative light, it has gone a long way in a short time. Nowadays, a lot of mainstream media embraces the differences, and the public loves to learn about them. Actors, models, journalists, and other celebrities are, for the most part, able to do their work without being hindered by one trait, one trait out of the thousands that make up who they are as a person. Seeing as how newer generations are becoming more and more accepting and open-minded, the media will most likely follow this path as well. A positive representation of all types of people in the media gives children and young adults the confidence needed to grow up and be exactly who they want.
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