Buzz
Queerbaiting--if you're part of the LGBTQ+ community, you're likely familiar with this detrimental marketing ploy. Queerbaiting is most commonly observed in television shows but can also manifest in literature, music, and various other forms of media. While you may recognize queerbaiting as harmful, understanding precisely what it entails is crucial. In this guide, you'll gain insight into the true nature of queerbaiting and learn strategies to avoid perpetuating it in your own narratives.
Essential Steps
Unraveling the Concept of Queerbaiting
It involves tantalizing hints of LGBTQ+ representation that never materialize. This insidious tactic is frequently employed in film and television productions. Queerbaiting hinges on the promise of LGBTQ+ representation, yet fails to deliver on this commitment. While ostensibly a marketing strategy to attract a wider audience, its implications are far-reaching and harmful.
Understanding the Contrast: Queer Coding versus Queerbaiting
Many individuals often conflate the concepts of 'queer coding' and 'queerbaiting,' failing to discern their distinctions. However, these two phenomena are inherently dissimilar.
- Queer coding: Occurs when characters aren't explicitly identified as queer, yet there exists enough implicit content for audiences to interpret them as such. For instance, a male character consistently wearing makeup throughout a television series. While queer coding isn't inherently positive or negative, its excessive use in media can be detrimental.
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Queerbaiting:
Involves hinting at queerness, such as an LGBT+ romance, without ever actualizing it. For example, two female characters in a television series frequently engage in 'flirtatious' behavior but never progress to a romantic relationship, without displaying any overt signs of romantic or sexual interest. Intentional and conspicuous queerbaiting is deemed offensive (refer to the subsequent query).
Understanding the Harmful Impact of Queerbaiting
It can lead young audiences to perceive inadequate LGBT+ representation, fostering feelings of isolation. Adolescents identifying as LGBT+ who consume media featuring queerbaiting may feel underrepresented. Such manipulative tactics exacerbate the mental health challenges already prevalent among queer individuals, including depression and anxiety. The absence of relatable portrayals in media can intensify feelings of isolation among queer youth.
It undermines the validity of LGBT+ identities. Implicitly suggesting same-sex attraction or other LGBT+ orientations without actual depiction can invalidate the experiences of LGBT+ individuals. Queerbaiting serves as a means to suppress LGBT+ identities, perpetuating a sense of invalidation among queer communities.
Queerbaiting is perceived as an effort to 'erase' queer identities. When characters are implied to be LGBT+ but their identities are never confirmed or shown, it can be interpreted as an attempt to erase queer identities, suggesting that same-gender attraction or other forms of being LGBT+ are merely 'phases' or not legitimate.
It enables companies to exploit deceptive marketing tactics targeting the LGBT+ community. Queerbaiting is regarded as disgraceful by the LGBT+ community, as it perpetuates the notion that LGBT+ individuals cannot lead ordinary lives openly and happily within society.
Strategies for Avoiding Queerbaiting in Writing
Embrace the inclusion of openly queer characters and relationships in your narratives. Many non-LGBT+ writers may hesitate to incorporate authentic LGBT+ representation in their stories due to concerns about potential misrepresentation or offense to the LGBT+ community, or fears of backlash from homophobic individuals. However, depicting queer characters and relationships should be approached with the same care and consideration as any other characters or relationships.
- Nevertheless, it's crucial to approach the portrayal of LGBT+ characters with sensitivity and accuracy. Refer to additional resources for guidance on respectfully and accurately depicting LGBT+ characters.
Ensure clarity in character relationships. Clearly establish the dynamics of friendships and romantic relationships within your narrative. For instance, if two male characters exhibit flirtatious behavior and harbor mutual affection throughout your story, depict them as a couple by the conclusion. If one character harbors romantic feelings for their best friend but the feelings are not reciprocated, address this explicitly within the narrative. Avoid leaving readers with unanswered questions regarding character relationships.
- It's essential that inquiries regarding love interests and relationships are resolved by the story's conclusion. Readers should be able to conclude, 'two men were in love and decided to pursue a relationship by the story's end,' rather than 'two men were in love but remained unattached.'
Incorporate one or two same-sex couples into your narrative. This serves as a straightforward method to introduce LGBT+ representation into your story. Consider having a character casually mention their partner during a conversation, or depict a central character attending a social event with their girlfriend.
- Even a brief reference by a supporting character, such as a male teacher speaking about his husband, can enrich the narrative.
Recognize that queerness encompasses more than same-gender relationships. Representation of transgender, aromantic, asexual, and nonbinary individuals is equally significant. Additionally, portraying bisexual or pansexual characters engaging in relationships across genders (while acknowledging their identities) is valid. All members of the LGBT+ community deserve visibility in media.
Introduce at least one openly queer character in your story. Ideally, ensure they explicitly disclose their sexual orientation or identity. Avoid ambiguity surrounding their identity throughout the narrative, as this constitutes queerbaiting.
- Direct acknowledgment of one's identity holds considerable influence. Encourage characters to openly declare, 'I identify as aromantic,' rather than merely stating, 'I'm not interested in romance.' Such representation fosters a sense of solidarity among readers with similar identities.
Feature several LGBT+ characters in supporting or background roles, even if your protagonist is heterosexual. Incorporate friends, acquaintances, family members, coworkers, or mentors of the main character who identify as LGBT+ or are involved in same-sex relationships. The inclusion of at least one openly LGBT+ character significantly enhances the inclusivity of your narrative.
- It's acceptable if your story cannot accommodate every identity. Prioritize what aligns best with the narrative's integrity.
