Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Information on tv: A Quantitative Analysis Across Two Seasons

Infrequent positive media portrayals of homosexuality might also influence the values of heterosexuals. Cultivation concept (Gerbner, Gross, Morgan, Signorielli, & Shanahan, 2002) implies that watching tv influences people’ attitudes and philosophy through an ongoing process whereby the planet as portrayed by the news involves be observed by audiences especially high-volume viewers as an accurate representation of truth. Regular tv viewing is proposed to generate a provided pair of conceptions and objectives about social truth among otherwise diverse audiences. Centered on cultivation concept, some scientists have actually recommended that the possible lack of portrayals of homosexuality on https://www.camsloveaholics.com tv might influence the thinking among hefty people that homosexuality is irregular or incredibly unusual. In accordance with Gross (1994), tv is really a major impact on the presumptions individuals have about members of minority teams such as for instance gays, lesbians, and bisexuals because numerous watchers could have small individual knowledge about such people.

Meant for cultivation theory, Gross (1984) unearthed that tv watching ended up being regarding more powerful attitudes that are negative gays and lesbians, no matter people’ governmental philosophy.

Despite the overwhelming heterosexuality of main-stream news representations, portrayals of homosexual and lesbian individuals on tv have grown to be significantly more widespread since 1997 whenever Ellen became the initial tv series to possess a gay character that is leading. This enhance is visible within the introduction of gay figures on numerous programs such as for example Spin City, ER, Dawson’s Creek, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in addition to suggests that give attention to homosexual characters in leading roles such as for example Will and Grace and it is All general. In addition, cable channels have actually included programs such as for example Queer as Folk, Six Feet Under, and Oz that depict homosexual figures much more plot that is complex in accordance with more explicit sexual habits.

Even though existence of lgbt figures might have increased recently on both commercial broadcast and cable companies, it’s not clear exactly just just how usually television addresses the intimate problems and issues of intimate minorities. As noted early in the day, when homosexual and lesbian figures have actually been contained in programs, they usually have often been portrayed in asexual contexts. Furthermore, the majority of exactly exactly what happens to be posted up to now about homosexuality and television happens to be qualitative (including case that is single-show), targeting just exactly how particular programs have actually portrayed homosexual figures. Although many content analyses have actually assessed the quantity of sexual content shown on tv generally speaking (Cope-Farrar & Kunkel, 2002; Greenberg et al., 1993; Kunkel et al., 1999, 2003; Kunkel, Cope-Farrar, Biely, Maynard-Farinola, & Donnerstein, 2001; Sapolsky & Tabarlet, 1991; Ward, 1995), none have actually reported from the prevalence of intimate portrayals and speak about sexual issues associated with gays, lesbians, or bisexuals.

This paper is targeted on factors evaluating content that is nonheterosexual were included included in two larger content analyses examining intimate content more broadly on US tv.

Data through the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 television seasons are accustomed to respond to questions concerning the prevalence and regularity of intimate behavior and talk that is sexual to nonheterosexuals. Specifically, the information analyses address two broad research concerns: (1) as to the extent are nonheterosexual sexual themes, especially intimate behavior and speak about sex, present in tv development overall and what patterns emerge across system genres, system kinds, and prime-time versus nonprime-time development? (2) When nonheterosexual intimate content occurs, what exactly is its frequency and just how does it differ across genres, style of system, and prime-time versus nonprime-time programming?

System Examples

A 3 composite week sampling plan ended up being used to have two large annual random examples of tv programs of best interest to adolescents and that were comprehensive on most sections regarding the tv industry. Programs had been taped from 11 channels 6 broadcast that is commercial (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, UPN, and WB) and 5 cable sites (BET, Cinemax, HBO, MTV, and Showtime). The Steve Harvey Show, Moesha, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, One on One); WB, which tailors its programming to white youth, with programs such as Gilmore Girls, 7th Heaven, Sabrina, and Smallville; and MTV, which shows music videos and other programs (e.g., dating reality shows) watched by many teens and young adults because the content analyses were part of a larger research project on television exposure and adolescent sexuality, several networks were included because of their appeal to young audiences including UPN, which televises a substantial number of programs with young African American characters ( e.g.