Presenter(s): Maddie Kelm − Psychology, Spanish
Faculty Mentor(s): Mariko Plescia
Poster 120
Research Area: Humanities (Spanish)
Throughout the history of the United States, immigration has been a topic of contention. Today, this tension persists in an American society which is characterized by xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment. This paper considers the manner in which the sexualization or desexualization of immigrant characters in American television series contribute to the perceived otherness of immigrants in the United States. By analyzing the representation of immigrant characters in the acclaimed television series That 70’s Show and Modern Family, this paper demonstrates that the valorization of immigrant characters is often based on their perceived sexuality. This paper argues that immigrant characters are sexualized (if they are women) or desexualized (if they are men) in order to maintain entrenched hierarchies: social, racial, and economic. Through its examination of popular media, this paper engages readers in a study of the subtle yet insidious injustices which are being perpetuated against immigrants via mainstream American television.