Within this video, women are given the opportunity to view specific images of stereotyped gay or transgender characters within contemporary media. As they view the images, their reactions are captured on film and compiled together to depict the stereotypes regarding sexuality and gender that the media portrays. The women were unaware of the sexuality or gender of each character, and were given the opportunity to freely express their initial reactions. From this video, we hoped to display the effects that popular media has upon our views regarding sexuality and gender, specifically addressing the specific things we often use to characterize and assume sexuality and or gender.
Character Ray from the FX TV Series “Archer”. Ray is an openly gay secret agent.
Lesbian character Alex Vause from “Orange is the New Black”
Character Alice Calvert from CBS’ “Under the Dome” With wife, Carolyn Hill (below)
Wife to Alice Calvert
Transgender character Sophia Burset from the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black”. The photo on the left depicts Sophia as male, and the photo on the right depicts Sophia as female.
Gay character Barton Scully from Showtimes “Masters of Sex”
Stef Foster and Lana Adams are married on the ABC Family show “The Fosters”