Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026
06:24
Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies
Published on: January 10, 2025
1.3K
Humanizing lesbian characters on television: Exploring their characterization and interpersonal relationships
Kandice M Parker1, Bidushy Sadika1, Durr-E Sameen1
1Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Journal of Lesbian Studies
|October 22, 2019
Summary
This study analyzed lesbian characters in TV shows, finding most were young, white, cisgender, and faced negative tropes. While relationships with mothers, friends, and partners were positive, father relationships and friendships lacked depth.
Area of Science:
- Media Studies
- Sociology
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Television plays a significant role in shaping societal perceptions of minority groups.
- Previous research indicates a need for more nuanced and diverse representations of lesbian characters in media.
- Understanding the portrayal of lesbian characters is crucial for assessing their impact on social attitudes and identity formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the interpersonal relationships and characterological profiles of lesbian characters in "lesbian-centric" television.
- To analyze demographic characteristics, gender presentation, use of homonegative tropes, and sexual behavior portrayals.
- To assess the quality of relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners, and the characters' sense of acceptance.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach was employed to analyze 39 lesbian characters from 20 television shows (2008-2018).
- Quantitative analysis focused on relationship quality, acceptance, gender expression, tropes, sexual behaviors, and demographics.
- Qualitative analysis provided deeper insights into character portrayals and relationship dynamics.
Main Results:
- The majority of lesbian characters were young, cisgender, white, and middle-class, often depicted using homonegative tropes.
- Positive relationships were common with mothers, children, close friends, and romantic partners, but not fathers.
- Qualitative data revealed that while relationships were generally positive, friendships were not fully developed.
Conclusions:
- While "lesbian-centric" television shows present generally positive relationships for lesbian characters, they often rely on stereotypes and underdeveloped friendships.
- The study highlights a need for more complex and authentic portrayals that move beyond common tropes.
- Future research should explore the impact of these representations and advocate for more diverse and developed character arcs.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Therapeutic Communication
6.8K
Communication is a lifelong learning process. Through therapeutic communication, nurses can collect relevant assessment data, provide education and counseling, and interact during nursing interventions. Sending and receiving messages occur through verbal and nonverbal communication techniques and can happen separately or simultaneously.
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
6.8K
01:27Companionate Love
220
Companionate love is a fundamental aspect of long-term relationships, characterized by deep affection, mutual respect, and emotional intimacy. Unlike passionate love, which is driven by intense emotions and physical attraction but often declines over time, companionate love remains stable and can even strengthen with shared experiences and commitment. Psychological and biological mechanisms underpin this enduring form of love, influencing relationship longevity and satisfaction.Stability and...
220
01:27Relationship Growth
170
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
170
01:26Couples Therapy
246
Couples therapy is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals in intimate relationships address conflicts, improve communication, and foster healthier dynamics. It is appropriate for couples at various stages, including those who are dating, married, or in long-term partnerships, and aims to support partners in navigating their unique relational challenges.
Core Principles and Techniques
Couples therapy often incorporates cognitive-behavioral principles to identify and modify negative...
Core Principles and Techniques
Couples therapy often incorporates cognitive-behavioral principles to identify and modify negative...
246
02:12Relationship Formation
45.2K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
45.2K
01:27Horney's Sociocultural Approach
1.0K
Karen Horney's psychoanalytic theories emphasize the potential for self-realization and the importance of addressing social and cultural, rather than biological, factors in personality development. She challenged traditional Freudian views, particularly Freud's concept of "penis envy," which she argued stemmed from cultural influences rather than inherent biological differences. Horney believed that any sense of inferiority in women was a result of societal conditioning, such as...
1.0K