1,860
14
Essay, 4 pages (950 words)

Dont judge too soon

Don’t Judge Too Soon In America today there are a lot of stereotypes surrounding gay people. These stereotypes are portrayed everywhere you look. You can find them on the television, in magazines and in movies. A lot of the time the media portrays gay people as fitting into only these stereotypes and as being so much different than any other person, without any regard for the truth or real life. People have preconceived notions of how gays and lesbians live their lives without even getting to know what its really like to be gay in America.

There has to be a way to get people that don’t know anything about the gay culture to look deeper and stop perpetuating the myths and stereotypes they see portrayed on an everyday basis through television, movies, and magazines. One of the most common stereotypes about gay men is that they are effeminate. This belief was something that was addressed in an interview with the stars of “ Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” on 20/20 in September of 2006.

This was the part of the interview that addressed it: “ We talked to Carson Kressley and Ted Allen, two of the stars of the hit television show “ Queer Eye” about the stereotypes. What, we asked, are the stereotypes about gay men? “ “’It’s that you’re obsessed with fashion, and that you tan a lot and that you color your hair,’ they said. But, says Allen, the stereotypes are not always true. ‘ Not all gay men are superstylish. Not all straight men are bad dressers,’ he said. ” Kressley and Allen were trying to defend themselves from one of the stereotypes that people have about gay men.

The 20/20 article went on to point out, “ There is research that suggests gay men do prefer certain professions, like fashion, interior design and hair coloring, and that lesbians are more likely to prefer sports and the military. Researchers say it’s because lesbians, on average, are attracted to more masculine occupations, and gay men tend to prefer more feminine occupations. ” The interview also states that hostility towards gay people in traditional gender-determined occupations drove them away from many other professions and into occupations where they could find acceptance.

For example, the 20/20 article focusing on gender stereotypes went on to interview members of the Pennsylvania Ballet about the assumption that all the male dancers were gay. One member had this to say, “” People talk about it. It’s no big deal, and as a matter of fact, it’s almost celebrated if you’re gay,” and “ So what if there are a lot of gay men in dance? I think it’s a good thing. ” Some television shows also portray gay men as being very effeminate. The television show “ Will ; Grace” is one of those shows.

Two of the main characters in the show are gay men whose feminine behavior is the focus of many story lines. The character Jack McFarland is portrayed as flamboyantly feminine and doesn’t seem to care what others think of him. The other main character, Will Truman, struggles with how his sexuality fits into his role as a high powered attorney, but lapses into his “ gay” self at home. This portrayal of two gay guys and their “ hag”, Grace, just perpetuates this single view of gay men as non-masculine. With the shows incredible popularity, a huge audience is led to think that gay men act that way.

The article “ The Truth About Gay Guys” from teenwire. com they give a definition of homophobia as, “ Homophobia is negative feelings about people who are (or appear to be) gay, lesbian, or bisexual. It’s caused by ignorance, misinformation, or lack of understanding about what lesbian, gay, bisexual, and straight people are really like and how they really appear. Sometimes it shows itself in obvious ways, like gay men and lesbians being beaten up or being denied a job. ” It is a shame that homophobia exists.

Judgment about a whole person and group based on sexuality, that denies a group of people respect and rights, is just plain wrong. The media, when it supports current stereotypes, only works to reinforce them. This misinformation only feeds homophobia and the idea that there is something ” wrong” with being gay. On a personal level, I happen to know many gay people from my time at working in a bowling alley. In my experience with gay men I have never come across any of them that were the extreme feminine stereotype that is portrayed in today’s media.

They were no different than me, other than their sexual preference. Some people might say that they are “ feminine” because they are generally nice, social people. Honestly, I have not met a gay man that was not kind. I feel that the straight community could take a lesson from them in tolerance and manners. But in today’s society you are judged based on who you can dominate and put down rather than if you’re respectful. If you don’t act masculine or “ hard” as they say in the streets, then you are feminine or “ soft” and therefore subject to ridicule and harassment.

I honestly feel that there are a lot of things in society that gives us this mindset. It is the media that takes this single, narrow view of gay people. There are ways to stop this negative outlook towards gay people though. We could start by actually getting over our fears and misconceptions and take the time to get to know more about gay people in our everyday lives. How are the like us? How are they different? What makes their culture unique and special? Just talk to someone and see if they are any different than you.

Thank's for Your Vote!
Dont judge too soon. Page 1
Dont judge too soon. Page 2
Dont judge too soon. Page 3
Dont judge too soon. Page 4
Dont judge too soon. Page 5

This work, titled "Dont judge too soon" was written and willingly shared by a fellow student. This sample can be utilized as a research and reference resource to aid in the writing of your own work. Any use of the work that does not include an appropriate citation is banned.

If you are the owner of this work and don’t want it to be published on AssignBuster, request its removal.

Request Removal
Cite this Essay

References

AssignBuster. (2022) 'Dont judge too soon'. 23 September.

Reference

AssignBuster. (2022, September 23). Dont judge too soon. Retrieved from https://assignbuster.com/dont-judge-too-soon/

References

AssignBuster. 2022. "Dont judge too soon." September 23, 2022. https://assignbuster.com/dont-judge-too-soon/.

1. AssignBuster. "Dont judge too soon." September 23, 2022. https://assignbuster.com/dont-judge-too-soon/.


Bibliography


AssignBuster. "Dont judge too soon." September 23, 2022. https://assignbuster.com/dont-judge-too-soon/.

Work Cited

"Dont judge too soon." AssignBuster, 23 Sept. 2022, assignbuster.com/dont-judge-too-soon/.

Get in Touch

Please, let us know if you have any ideas on improving Dont judge too soon, or our service. We will be happy to hear what you think: [email protected]