BOF Sabbatical 2020-2021 - Alexander Dhoest.

This project aims to investigate the role of media in relation to sexual and gender identifications among different generations of queer people. The term queer is used in this context as an umbrella term for people who do not identify as straight. While the media representation of queer people has been extensively researched, the way they use media in processes of identity building remains underexplored. Moreover, although an emerging literature focuses on the use of online media by younger queers, the media uses of older queers are hardly researched. Nevertheless, they grew up in a different era in terms of social acceptance as well as media representation. By comparing media 'generations', i.e. people who grew up with different media repertoires, it is possible to more exactly pinpoint the importance of media in processes of sexual and gender identity formation. This issue is all the more pressing, as processes of collective identity formation seem to be shifting, away from more fixed categories like gay/straight and towards more fluid categories. To investigate these issues, this project will use in-depth interviews with 40 queer people, evenly divided over two generations: the so-called 'generation X', born between 1960 and 1980, and 'Millennials', born between 1981 and 2000. Drawing on a preliminary online survey, a diverse range of participants will be selected in terms of gender identifications, ethnicity etc. The interviews will span the participant's entire lives, aiming to pinpoint which media were available at what time in their lives, and how this related to their process of identity formation.

Keywords:MEDIA, QUEER STUDIES, IDENTITIES

Disciplines:Cultural media, Gender and media, Media audience research