Sexualized Minorities in the Media

Sexualized Minorities or “Sexual Otherness” in Media and Heterosexism in Media

Often in the media, minorities are depicted as being often deviant, criminals, or victimized. Especially in music, but also in television and movies, the criminals are depicted as being minority figures. If they aren’t directly involved in criminal activity, they are positioned in such a way as to imply that they are intimidating or dangerous. It is popular for musicians to write and perform songs involving drug use and abuse, criminal activity, crimes against women, racism, and violence. When these images are the majority of the images and messages shown to minorities, it presents a model that expresses to them that this is the ideal or optimal path. In the film “Boyz N the Hood”, although it is an attempt to depict the real issues of living in south central LA, the effect of the film was regarded as glamorizing gang violence and lifestyle. It seems that even more recently, this lifestyle has been geared towards women. The "thug" has gone from an intimidating notion to sexually desireable. Rap music now often focuses on the correlation between violence, criminal activity, and sexual prowess to appeal to both the male and female audience. This is compounded by the fact that in popular culture, African Americans are subject to the myth that males are sexually superior and more phsyically capable in regards to sex and sexuality.

Minorities, when put in reference to non-minority subjects, are often place in a submissive role or position. In television, minorities often play the rich white individuals nanny, housecleaner or secretary. In this image, the minority figure is literally suppressed by the majority figure.
A less extreme or obvious example is the movie “Finding Forester”. In the movie, a young man who is atheletically and intellectually gifted earns his way in to a private high school. While there he experiences the negative effects of being an obvious minority from his professors and from other individuals throughout the movie. A less obvious example though is that even though he is very intellectually gifted, he is under the tutelage of Sean Connerys’ character. Even though there isn’t a strong racist implication made, despite Sean’s disparaging remarks, the minority figure is still placed in a “Less than” position even though he is very gifted.
Minority females are often depicted as being exotic or sexual rarities. While typical majority females are sexually attractive, minorities are depicted as rarities that should be sought after with double the fervor. This is exemplified in television and movies, where women of different races are characterized by common physical traits which are placed on some kind of pedestal. On the “Tyra Banks Show”, often she explores the issues of race, women, and “The other” in terms of sexuality and how it is viewed, particularly by men. Since this show is geared towards women, it is clear that all of these episodes are focused of delving in to what men find attractive in certain races and why. Also, episodes which focus on fetishes, and the like are showcased for exploration, which typically ends up looking like or serving as an exhibit at a freak show.