Media has played an important role in shaping how society perceives gender roles and social norms. This has been more evident since technology started to take over our lives. In this modern era, people have become accustomed to seeing different types of relationships through various forms of media such as TV shows, movies, books, music videos, magazines, and even advertising billboards. The portrayal of queer relationships in these mediums is becoming increasingly diverse and widespread. As a result, adolescents are constantly being exposed to new ways of expressing their sexuality and romance.
It can be argued that the representation of queer relationships in the media influences how they understand love, romance, and sexual expression. Adolescence is a crucial stage where one experiences physical and emotional changes which make them more aware of themselves and those around them. They start developing ideas about what kind of relationship they want to have in the future based on what they see or hear from others, including their peers.
If they see two men kissing on screen, they might think that there's nothing wrong with having same-sex relationships instead of heterosexual ones. Alternatively, if they see two women holding hands on camera while walking down the street together, they may interpret it differently than if they saw two males doing so because society views female intimacy as something beautiful whereas male affection is seen as aggressive or offensive. It should also be noted that some parents restrict access to certain forms of media due to its explicit content which could influence how teenagers view sex and gender roles in general. Some research suggests that exposure to positive portrayals of gay couples reduces prejudice among adolescents who identify as straight or cisgendered (Drescher et al., 2014).
Seeing different types of relationships presented in TV shows helps individuals develop an open mind towards non-traditional relationships. by discussing how media has helped normalize same-sex marriage and other types of unions.