Media Portrayal of Transgender Characters Essay example

The depiction of transgender women characters in mainstream television has been offensive, insulting and derogatory. An article from GLADD called â€Å"Victims or Villains: Examining Ten Years of Transgender Images on Television†, examines 102 episodes and storylines on mainstream television that contained transgender characters since 2002. Of these, more than half were characterized as containing negative representations of transgender. In 2007 only 1% of television series had a recurring transgender character, which has slowly increased to 4% in 2013. Negative portrayal of transgender tv characters Many television shows have transgender characters portrayed offensively, which clearly demonstrates a widespread problem. Transgender†¦show more content†¦During an episode of The Cleveland Show a man sleeps with a character who turns out to be transgender and is literally sickened by this fact. Although not a television show, The Crying Game is partially responsible for bringing this idea to the general public. Serano references this movie in â€Å"Whipping Girl†, which shows a similar repulsed reaction when the character reveals she is physically male. Serano also states â€Å"the media hypersexualizes us by creating the impression that most trans women are sex workers or sexual deceivers† (Serano, 16). They are either deceptive by tricking us with their penises, or they are pathetic and ugly, which makes them look like a failed woman. CSI featured a transgender serial killer in one episode. Stryker calls these â€Å"psycho-killer-in-a-dress stereotypes†. To make matters worse there were scenes in which transgender murder victims were ridiculed by the show’s main characters while investigating the crime scene and examining their bodies. The victim’s gender identity became the butt of a joke. But while the trans community is being represented as killers, they are also the ones who are being murdered. Media has a habit of â€Å"telling the world a story that transgender people are always victims or villains, instead of true depictions that show the transgender community as citizens worthy of equality and respect† (Kane, 2013). Positive portrayal Finding positiveShow MoreRelatedLGBT Community and Discrimination.1291 Words   |  6 Pagesthough not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal. Media portrayal of the LGBT community is varying. It may be very positive and a â€Å"good† portrayal or negative and instead focuses on the stereotypical aspects of the LGBT community. One definition of a good LGBT television portrayal is one that depicts an LGBT character without over glaringly obviousness of their sexual orientation, or without adding many LGBT stereotypes thatRead MoreTransitioning to a Better State: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman2026 Words   |  9 Pages The LGBT community is a group that often falls victim to negative stereotyping. LGBT is an acronym for Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender that categorizes a community of individuals that are a part of the sexual minority (Swain, 2007). One community that falls under the umbrella of the LGBT acronym is the transgender community. 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Many1689 Words   |  7 PagesGender is a very hot button issue in 2017 America. Many citizens are confused by it all and don’t quite understand gender. Would four boys from the town of South Park understand? Probably not considering one boy would fake being transgender just to skip the long bathroom lines. In the following paper I will discuss and analyze the show South Park and its view on gender roles in one episode as well as Family guy and analyze its view on gender as well. The television show was created in 1997 by TreyRead MoreBiological Differences Between Males And Females1176 Words   |  5 Pagesinformal values are in sync, for if they are not, one may find themselves in a situation in which they are unready or unwilling to participate. One s values do not form in a vacuum and are shaped by their society and culture. Family, religion, school, media, and personal experiences are a few factors that may influence one s values. I believe that family and religion has had the least impact on my sexual values. My parents never talked to me and my younger brother about sex or sexuality. Although my