The last few classes we've been talking about gay stereotypes in the media, particularly in Mitch and Cam, Modern Family's gay couple. I was home this week and had the pleasure of watching the show and there was a lesbian couple introduced. This is the clip with which they are introduced.
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This scene itself is full of stereotypes, and later in the episode more stereotypes abound, like all lesbians being vegetarians. The entire time I was watching this, I thought of our discussion of the way the media views people, and I can't help but think this episode perfectly sums it all up. There is a "man" in the lesbian relationship, she is somewhat butch and has a job as a contractor. In the gay couple, there is the homemaker, the mom.
This isn't the only show that is guilty of gay stereotyping, nor is gay stereotyping the only thing on TV. Everywhere you look, pretty much every show is a bag of extremes and generalizations. This is the media culture now for some reason. We are out reinforcing stereotypes, and I don't think it's helpful to anyone. Polarizing groups just reinforces the stereotypes, and even if in a show people are purposefully stereotyped, many people don't take the time to think about it and only take things for face value. It's creating a culture where it's even more okay to put people in boxes they may not belong in.
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