Gender Stereotypes In The Film Genre

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The most amazing thing about television and media as a whole—fictionalized or otherwise—is that it is a mirror. When you gaze into a television set and witness wizards casting fire balls or ships careening through the depths of space at the speed of light, you’re not looking into an alternate world where the fantastic has been reduced to normality; you’re looking into a reflection of how someone else sees the world. Sure, magic is not real, nor does mankind have access to ships capable of interstellar travel on a level comparable to Star Trek, but the ambitions of the characters that cast the spells and man the ships? The laws and cultures of the worlds they inhabit? Whether the creators of these stories do it consciously or not, they are all, …show more content…
In the West, society remains heavily dominated by white, heterosexual, men; consequently, the vast majority of stories told are filtered through that lens. Most of the heroes and heroines are white men, and due to culturally ingrained archaic beliefs, those who differ from that mold (whether they be women, gay, or of a different ethnic group) are portrayed in a less than favorable light. And while it’s been shown that white audiences are not generally attracted to films starring predominantly black actors (Jorge Rivas), it has gotten to a point where it is not only white audiences who demand white leading men and women; it is everyone. Everyone in the West, to some extent, has become “indoctrinated” by the dominant culture—white culture. After decades of being shown a vast majority of white, male heroes, it becomes all anyone knows; all anyone ever expects. And since white stars is all anyone knows, and therefore all anyone wants, then for the longest, it was all audiences were given; a self-perpetuating cycle of underrepresentation. Is it any wonder then why, even in the 21st century, there are countless examples of film adaptations white-washing ethnic roles for white leads? Take 2010’s The Last Airbender (adaptation of the Asian-centric Avatar) where the protagonists were played by white actors and …show more content…
While ethnic minorities and women have had a history in the media of scarcely being underrepresented, the homosexual community has had a history of not being represented at all. And when they rarely were, it was never in a positive light (blacks at least had a couple Sidney Poitiers). However, gay men have historically been painted as the worst thing a man could possibly be (it is definitely worth noting how heavily feminine behavior has been demonized), and lesbians have been reduced to a fetish in service to heterosexual fantasies. It wasn’t until 1991 that the first on-screen homosexual kiss was ever shown, and even then, advertisers threatened to jump ship over it (Jennie Wood). In some ways, media representation is most important to the LGBTQIA community due to the fact that until recently (and even now, for many), their lifestyles have had to be maintained in secrecy (it’s not as easy to hide your ethnicity or sex). The escapism of fiction (especially in the superhero genre, where lifestyle duality and secrecy is so important) has reportedly saved many lives (Brian Mitchell Peters). In recent years, great strides have been made when it comes to queer representation in the media (thanks to programs like Orange is the New Black, Glee, and The Legend of Korra), but the controversies these shows have
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