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Differentiating from TV Representations: Shame and the Process of Gay/Lesbian Identification Among Chilean Television Viewers.

Authors :
Ramírez, Ricardo
Source :
Journal of Homosexuality. Nov2024, Vol. 71 Issue 13, p3174-3195. 22p.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

The representation of gays and lesbians on Chilean television has increased steadily over the last decades. This paper offers an analysis of the role these images had in the processes of sexual identification of a sample of 25 members of the audience who identify as gays or lesbians. Through a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, it is shown that the respondents believed that the televisual representations of homosexuality have contributed to further marginalize gay and lesbian lives. This strengthened damaging feelings that fed into a sense of shame that was originating from multiple institutions and texts, thus complicating their processes of self-recognition and self-acceptance during their childhood and adolescence. Taking examples of how participants described their relationship with these representations and the ways in which they circulated socially, it is argued that they could only articulate their identification as gays or lesbians by disassociating themselves from these images and establishing a clear difference in regard to them. This was in a process in which several other informational and experiential opportunities came into play, which allowed them to resignify the categories gay/lesbian and lead less conflictive processes of identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00918369
Volume :
71
Issue :
13
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Homosexuality
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
180732832
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2023.2283862