The Repercussions of Representation

Authors

  • Navyaa Mittal Delhi Public School, R. K. Puram
  • Dr. Mritunjay Sharma Alum: University of Manchester

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v11i2.2550

Keywords:

transgender, media representation, movies, bollywood, non-binary, lgbtqia, lgbt, gender, representation, trans rights, minorities, transphobia

Abstract

Representation in the media has, to a great degree, shaped people’s views of communities they have not had personal interaction with. With growing awareness about the lives and rights of transgender individuals, a concern is raised about how they are showcased in media. This research study aims to evaluate the impact of depicting gender and related themes in media on the lives of urban transgender Indian youth belonging to the age group of 15 to 19 years old. This was accomplished through conducting focus group sessions to understand the participants’ views furthermore thematic analysis was carried out to interpret and thematise the findings. The study illuminated feelings of alienation, from the rest of the community and from society as a whole. The participants showed signs of internalised transphobia that linked to the vision of them shown in the media. While moving forward, media seeking to represent the transgender, or any minority, community need to consider the impacts of their representation. In particular, having members from the community oversee their work and be involved in the production of the same would ensure authentic and relatable representation. This would create job opportunities for transgender individuals in the film industry, thereby increasing their livelihood and leading to betterment in the functioning of the industry. In addition, it would help secure the place of gender minorities in a society that currently either refuses to acknowledge their existence or has a warped perception of them.

Keywords - transgender, representation, media, internalised transphobia, nonbinary

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Dr. Mritunjay Sharma, Alum: University of Manchester

Advisor

References or Bibliography

American Psychological Association. (2021). Transgender people, gender identity and gender expression. Apa.org. https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq/transgender

Banu, M., Shapna, M., & Professor, A. (2020). HISTORY OF TRANSGENDER PORTRAYAL IN INDIAN CINEMA. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews, 7(1). https://www.ijrar.org/papers/IJRAR2001442.pdf

Higley, D. (2019). Bending the binary: Effects of nonbinary gender media representations on disposition formation and media enjoyment. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/6290/

Jobe, J. (2013). Encompass Transgender Representation in the Media. https://encompass.eku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://scholar.google.co.in/&httpsredir=1&article=1145&context=honors_theses

K., B. (2020). Gendering of Development Data in India: Beyond the Binary. In S. Chattapadhyay (Ed.), cis-india. https://cis-india.org/raw/files/brindaalakshmi-k-gendering-of-development-data-in-india-beyond-the-binary-1

Kaur, P. (2017). Gender, Sexuality and (Be) longing: The Representation of Queer (LGBT) in Hindi Cinema. Amity Journal of Media & Communication Studies, 7(1). https://amity.edu/UserFiles/asco/journal/ISSUE50_3.%20Pushpinder.pdf

Mandal, C. (n.d.). “Other” Gender in India: An Analysis of 2011 Census Data. Retrieved January 19, 2022, from http://paa2019.populationassociation.org/uploads/190235

Mclaren, J. (2018). Scholarship at UWindsor “Recognize Me”: An Analysis of Transgender Media Representation. https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1049&context=major-papers

Mushtaq, T., & Ahmed, Dr. A. (2019, April). (PDF) Third Gender Portrayal in Bollywood: An Analysis of Sadak. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333696280_Third_Gender_Portrayal_in_Bollywood_An_Analysis_of_Sadak

Naik, N. (n.d.). Transgenderism in India: Insights from current census. http://paa2019.populationassociation.org/uploads/191100

Pathak, S. (2019). NPR Choice page. Npr.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/12/04/784398783/india-just-passed-a-trans-rights-bill-why-are-trans-activists-protesting-it

Pietkiewicz, I., & Smith, J. (2014). A practical guide to using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in qualitative research psychology 1. Czasopismo Psychologiczne – Psychological Journal, 20(1), 361–369.

Vijlbrief, A., Saharso, S., & Ghorashi, H. (2019). Transcending the gender binary: Gender non-binary young adults in Amsterdam. Journal of LGBT Youth, 17(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2019.1660295

Vimala, P., & Kumari, S. (2016). A STUDY ON STIGMATIZATION AND DISTRESS AMONG THE TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS. Shanlax International Journal of Arts, Science & Humanities, 4(1). http://www.shanlaxjournals.in/pdf/ASH/V4N1/Ash_V4_N1_007.pdf

What is Representation? - GCSE Media Studies Revision. (n.d.). BBC Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9fx39q/revision/1#:~:text=Representation%20is%20how%20media%20texts

Published

05-31-2022

How to Cite

Mittal, N., & Sharma, M. (2022). The Repercussions of Representation. Journal of Student Research, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v11i2.2550

Issue

Section

Research Posters