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Heteronormativity
Jan. 4th, 2011 03:15 amA few days ago, I re-watched an episode of Doctor Who from RTD's time. It reminded me, again, of how much I liked RTD's inclusion of gay and lesbian background characters, and how much I took it for granted at the time.
I don't like everything about RTD's characterization, or even all his depictions of queer characters. But I did like how he made the world of Doctor Who a place where some people were gay. I liked it even better for the fact that Doctor Who is traditionally a family show that's been liked by a lot of children.
I don't think fiction is the best means for young people to get an idea of how the world works. I don't expect fiction to always present an ideal. But it does influence us. It does help teach us what the world is like. And it does reflect the society that creates it.
I'm fortunate. I grew up in a fairly accepting household. I'm also fortunate to have learned young that it's possible to be queer, and to have learned that without any judgment attached.
Even so, I've grown up in a very heteronormative world. When I was a kid, I didn't have any openly gay friends or family members. Everyone seems to take for granted that I'm straight. That is, since I'm read as female, I'll get comments from acquaintances about "when I have a husband." I've been asked if I have a boyfriend. No one has ever added "...or a girlfriend?"
Growing up, I saw countless representations of heterosexuality on TV and in movies. I can't remember the first time I saw straight romance and sexuality depicted on screen. I can remember the first time I saw an openly gay character in film (it was Philadelphia, which I saw on cable when I was around 11).
One of harder things for me, when I came out to myself, was that I'd never had any model or example for being queer, real or fictional.
But I wonder if, to some extent, it's more natural to create queer characters if you're queer yourself. Otherwise, maybe it's not something you consider. Maybe it doesn't occur to you to have some of your background characters be gay.
I don't buy that totally, though, because there are straight people who write queer characters or who are aware of representation (or the lack of it). And it seems like such a simple thing to me, in today's world, to have a character be gay.
I don't like everything about RTD's characterization, or even all his depictions of queer characters. But I did like how he made the world of Doctor Who a place where some people were gay. I liked it even better for the fact that Doctor Who is traditionally a family show that's been liked by a lot of children.
I don't think fiction is the best means for young people to get an idea of how the world works. I don't expect fiction to always present an ideal. But it does influence us. It does help teach us what the world is like. And it does reflect the society that creates it.
I'm fortunate. I grew up in a fairly accepting household. I'm also fortunate to have learned young that it's possible to be queer, and to have learned that without any judgment attached.
Even so, I've grown up in a very heteronormative world. When I was a kid, I didn't have any openly gay friends or family members. Everyone seems to take for granted that I'm straight. That is, since I'm read as female, I'll get comments from acquaintances about "when I have a husband." I've been asked if I have a boyfriend. No one has ever added "...or a girlfriend?"
Growing up, I saw countless representations of heterosexuality on TV and in movies. I can't remember the first time I saw straight romance and sexuality depicted on screen. I can remember the first time I saw an openly gay character in film (it was Philadelphia, which I saw on cable when I was around 11).
One of harder things for me, when I came out to myself, was that I'd never had any model or example for being queer, real or fictional.
But I wonder if, to some extent, it's more natural to create queer characters if you're queer yourself. Otherwise, maybe it's not something you consider. Maybe it doesn't occur to you to have some of your background characters be gay.
I don't buy that totally, though, because there are straight people who write queer characters or who are aware of representation (or the lack of it). And it seems like such a simple thing to me, in today's world, to have a character be gay.
