A brief look at heterosexuality vs homosexuality in the media...

1. Danielle Duffy

2. Definition: a romantic/sexual attraction
towards one of the opposite gender to
oneself
This is seen as the norm in Western
society.
Stereotypes:
 Women are seen as sexualised objects
 Men “sell to other men”
Straight man:
- Don’t show emotions
- Domineering socially and sexually
- Strong, protective
- Ignorant
Straight woman:
- Like girly things; the colour pink
- Sensitive, weak, need a man
This is the ideological representation as
stated in Dyer’s theory.

3. Definition: a romantic/sexual attraction
towards one of the same gender as oneself
Stereotypes:
 “It’s just a phase” (also a stereotype for
bisexuals)
Gay men – feminine, “camp”, bitchy,
promiscuous, attractive, have female friends
Lesbian women – butch, short-hair, man
haters
Gross (1991) argues the media has often
‘symbolically annihilated’ gays and lesbians
by excluding them altogether
Change – in 2015, same-sex marriage was
legalised in America, a huge achievement for
the LBGT community
These legislations have led to a change in
many people’s attitudes and perceptions,
and this is beginning to be reflected in the
media’s representations
In the past it was seen as a disease – society
has come far in terms of our equality

4.  Maggie Radcliffe and Jocelyn
Knight (Broadchurch, ITV)
 Hannibal Lecter, Will Graham and
others (Hannibal, NBC)
 Piper Chapman, Alex Vause, Sophia
Burset, Nicky Nichols and various
others (Orange Is The New Black,
Netflix) Piper is the protagonist of
the series
 Patience "Patsy" Mount and Delia
Busby (Call The Midwife, BBC One)