this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2023
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Whether or not that stat is true, I don't think that minority representation should be accurately reflected based on the percentage of the population the minority represents. Just as an example, if we're talking about television shows, and let's just throw out a number that there are 100 major characters across all of the major networks/most watched shows. That would mean all LGBTQ+ representation is contained to 5 characters.. The chance of any one non-invested viewer seeing those characters becomes minimal -- which means that both cishet folks aren't getting exposed to minority representation (something that helps normalize us), and LGBTQ+ folks aren't getting exposed to minority representation (something that helps our own confidence and mental health).
Quite a lot of characters on TV or in media where their sexual orientation and/or gender identity is irrelevant, though.
Not saying it’s accurately represented, but if you watch popular stuff - how much else is?
Color? Gender? Mac vs. PC usage?
Small steps at the time, but I think it’s important to note that there’s been progress. Yet female characters are still overly sexualized, but at least we usually get more than that token black guy now.
Oh, I by no means think that other minority groups are more well off when it comes to representation.
I'm just coming at this from my own personal lens, being well aware that any representation of trans folk as normal would have gone a long way for me as a child. So that's what I advocate for, but by no means do I feel we need to tear others down to get where we need to be.
If I came off as suggesting that you meant such a thing, I apologize.
I merely intended to point out the gaps that everyone will see and recognize.
At least now there are shows where these issues are put front and center, which I think is great, but they may not be considered mainstream, yet, unsure if they ever will.
No worries, and no need to apologize!
I'll admit coming off of other social media spaces (looking at you, Reddit), I'm consistently (and pleasantly) surprised at the kind of interaction here. I'm so used to having to defend myself that I sometimes read hostility where there's really no hint of it at all.
And yeah, I'm happy that we're starting to see some representation out there. As a kid I pretty much just had Jerry Springer or Ace Ventura as far as representation of what trans people are, and let me say that was not at all helpful to a young kid trying to figure out what these feelings were.