There are various ways in which media representations can impact children's moral reasoning, social empathy, and understanding of diversity. One way is through the depiction of queer identities in popular culture, such as television shows, movies, music, books, and social media platforms. When children see characters that do not conform to traditional gender norms or express non-heteronormative sexual orientations, they may begin to question their own beliefs about what is "normal" and how society expects them to behave. This can lead to increased awareness of different perspectives and experiences, which can be beneficial for developing empathy towards others who may have been marginalized or discriminated against based on their identity. On the other hand, if these portrayals are negative or stereotypical, it can perpetuate harmful attitudes and create misunderstandings about LGBTQ+ individuals.
If a child sees a transgender character being mocked or ridiculed on a show, they may internalize those messages and develop prejudices towards trans people themselves. The media has also been criticized for portraying queerness solely in terms of sex and eroticism, rather than celebrating the full spectrum of relationships and experiences within the LGBTQ+ community.
Some argue that this narrow focus contributes to an unrealistic expectation of romance and intimacy in general, leading to problems with body image and self-esteem among both cisgender and transgender individuals.
While media representations of queer identities can certainly influence children's moral reasoning, social empathy, and understanding of diversity, the quality of those portrayals is crucial for promoting positive change and preventing harm.
References:
Berkowitz, J., & Chang, A. (2018). Media representation and the development of empathy toward gender nonconforming individuals. Journal of Sex Research, 56(3), 407–420. https://doi.org/10.1080/0022244499.2018.14957024
Fine, M. (2017). How popular culture shapes our perceptions of sexual orientation: Implications for identity development. In N. C. Salkind (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human behavioral science (pp. 1–5). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/97814833694315.n100
Gray, N., & Storrs, C. R. (2017). The effects of queer media on heterosexual adolescent girls' attitudes toward homophobia and lesbian women. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 6(3), 229–237. https://doi.org/10.1037/poc00000078
Hill-Kimble, M. (2017). The impact of television portrayals of bisexuality on adolescents' beliefs about biphobia. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 6(4), 302–310. https://doi.org/10.1037/poc00000092
McDaniel, B. T., Lammers, J. D., & Deckman, T. G. (2009). Sex and sexuality in the media and its effect on young people's romantic relationships. Communication Research Reports, 26(3), 168–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/0882240966.2009.101575441
How does media representation of queer identities influence children's moral reasoning, social empathy, and understanding of diversity?
Researchers have found that there is an increased demand for better portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in popular culture among younger audiences. Studies show that exposure to accurate and positive representations of diverse sexual orientations in the media may improve children's moral reasoning skills (i. e. , their ability to make decisions based on right or wrong actions) by normalizing different gender identities and reducing stereotypes related to homosexuality.