Despite increasing acceptance of different sexualities, TV often depicts heterosexuality as the norm and homosexuality as different or strange. Gay characters tend to be marginalized and their storylines frequently revolve around their sexuality rather than allowing them to be multifaceted characters. Common stereotypes in TV include the flamboyant gay man, butch lesbian, and feminine lesbian. Proper analysis requires considering how a character's depicted gender and sexuality interact and the implicit messages around normalcy and power.

2.  homosexual
 heterosexual
 bisexual
 asexual
 straight
 gay
 Lesbian
 pansexual
Can you think of examples from TV drama?

3.  …..A name for the sexual feelings and behaviour of a
person
 .….When applied to groups of people (e.g.
heterosexuals/homosexuals/bisexuals) ideas of social
attitude and organisation are implied. (Nelmes, J.,
Introduction to Film Studies (Routledge 2007) )

4.  Despite changing equality laws and a wider acceptance of different
sexualities within much of society, TV has always remained quite
conservative as they are scared of offending their viewers.
 Heterosexual (straight) characters are represented as the “norm”
and homosexual (gay) characters are often represented as being
different, strange, or separate from mainstream society.
 Some critics say that when TV does feature gay characters, they are
never just characters that “happen to be gay.” Their sexuality
always plays a key part in their storylines and they don’t seem to
have any issues outside of their sexuality.

5.  Heterosexual women
 Heterosexual men
 Homosexual women (lesbian)
 Homosexual men (gay)
 Make your own notes, remember you may think of other
common stereotypes!

6. Heterosexual Women
• Loving/Respectable/averag
e (monogamous)
• Promiscuous
• Frigid (uncomfortable)
• Pure (virginal/naive)
• Alternative (‘gold digger’,
‘pregnant teen’, ‘cougar’)

7. Heterosexual Men
• Respectable (monogamous)
• Promiscuous
• ‘Ladies Man’, ‘Heart throb’
• Bumbling man who has
trouble talking to women

8. Homosexual women (Lesbian)
• Monogamous
• Promiscuous
• Embarrassed (In the closet)

9. Homosexual Males
(Gay)
• Promiscuous
• Monogamous
• Overbearing
• Embarrassed (In the
closet)

10. Important points to consider
• Gender closely ties in with
sexuality.
• Sexuality is often expressed
through physical means;
clothes, props, setting, acting.
• Understanding how a particular
characters gender is constructed
will help you analyse how their
sexuality is being represented.

11.  As society has developed, and times have changed,
so has the representation of sexuality in TV
Dramas.
 However, Gay and lesbian characters are often
marginalised and are seen as supporting
characters.
 It is sometimes difficult for the characters to grow
and develop.

12.  Fears coming out to his
family
 Displays some
stereotypical attributes of
gay behaviour such as
dancing in a theatrical way
and being flamboyant.
 http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=ikQlhm6QQuA

13.  The Colourful Gay Man – Stanford Blatch –
Sex and the City
 Some feminine qualities
 Best friends with women
 Like to talk about fashion and feelings
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_M3R
wF2UN8&feature=related

14. The Butch Lesbian
Shane in the L Word
 Masculine Dress
 Masculine behaviour?
 Man in the
relationship?

15. Feminine Lesbian
Santana in Glee
 Concerned with feelings
and love over sex.
 Dress feminine
http://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=UERsZImECTk&featu
re=related

16.  Can I identify what the sexualities of the characters are?
 Are people of different sexualities shown as having different
interests, personalities, attitudes, behaviours? If so, how?
 Is their sexuality represented as being important in their life?
 Are particular sexualities represented as being normal / powerful /
better? If so, how?
 Are particular sexualities represented as being abnormal? If so,
how?
 What is the message the clip is trying to portray about sexuality?
 Don’t forget that “straight” is a sexuality too. Don’t ignore the
straight characters as they need to be analysed too!

17. Key words:
 homosexual
 heterosexual
 bisexual
 asexual
 straight
 gay
 lesbian