Interactive media like video games, apps, and social networks can be powerful tools for breaking down preconceived notions about gender identity, sexual orientation, and romantic attraction. They offer opportunities for representation, visibility, and validation that are unparalleled in traditional forms of media.
They also carry risks of perpetuating negative stereotypes that can be damaging to the LGBT community. Here's how interactive media challenges and reinforces these stereotypes, and what creators have to do to avoid harmful tropes.
Challenging Stereotypes
One way that interactive media can challenge stereotypes is through storytelling. Many popular games feature characters who are LGBT and show them as multidimensional individuals with their own hopes, dreams, flaws, and struggles.
"Life is Strange" features a lesbian protagonist named Max Caulfield who deals with issues related to her sexuality, relationships, and family. The game allows players to make choices that impact the storyline, creating a unique experience for each player. By showing a diverse range of identities, games like this one help break down assumptions about what it means to be LGBT.
Reinforcing Stereotypes
Some games may reinforce harmful stereotypes without even realizing it. One common trope is the idea that all gay men are hyper-sexualized or promiscuous. Games like "Grand Theft Auto V" include several characters who fit this description, from drug dealers to sex workers. These depictions reinforce negative stereotypes that are often used to justify discrimination against the LGBT community.
Responsibility of Creators
Interactive media creators have a responsibility to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes and create inclusive, authentic portrayals of LGBT people. They should consult with experts in the field, research cultural sensitivities, and seek input from members of the LGBT community. It's also important to consider how these characters might impact young audiences, who may not understand nuance or context. By taking these steps, creators can use interactive media as a powerful tool for social change and help build understanding and acceptance.
How might interactive media challenge or reinforce stereotypes about LGBT people, and what responsibilities do creators have to avoid harmful tropes?
Interactive media has the potential to both challenge and reinforce existing stereotypes of LGBT people depending on how the story is told. Some popular examples include "The Last of Us," "Dragon Age: Inquisition" and "Pokemon Sword and Shield. " While these games allow for greater representation and exploration of LGBT characters than other forms of media, they also perpetuate harmful tropes such as hypersexualization and tokenism.