The Conversation About The Roles Advertising And The Media Play In Shaping And Normalcy

A bit somber, Elif, her voice cracking, said, in a state of shock

, "I never knew people were hurt, that people, kids our own age, died because of homophobia." The next student said, "I have never heard the term hate crime before." Almost half the class attested to the same reaction. Responses flowed for almost 15 minutes, like water escaping a drain. They referred to specific images that had the greatest impact on them and asked many questions.

Ece admitted, "When I saw the image of a man and woman kissing I smiled. That's normal. We see this everywhere. But when you saw the Thomas Sabo Bracelets man kiss the man, it was abnormal. I don't ever see this."

"It is sick," Betina spit out angrily, "that children held up signs that say 'God hates fags' and 'God kills fags.' What people do that to children?" Several others nodded and voiced affirmation, sharing Betina's disgust.

Mert asked if we could return to the slides of two boys who were beaten and the two boys, Lawrence King and Matthew Shepard, who were killed. "Why do people do this?" he asked. "It does not make sense for me," he said, shaking his head. This prompted several students to recall parts of the definition about homophobia, particularly the phrase "irrational hatred, intolerance, and fear."

I asked them where homophobia comes from. Several students talked about the role religion has historically played in shaping attitudes. They are already aware from their history class that in ancient Greece bisexuality among men was encouraged, was something normal; but in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam "homosexuality has been treated as heresy," Zafir stated.

Cansu added, "Not knowing enough about homosexuals, or anything we fear ... I think fear comes from being unfamiliar with the thing. . . . Because you don't know it. You're not familiar with it, then it is worse than it is. You are automatically scared of it."

I asked the students, "Without naming names, raise your hand if you know someone who is gay or lesbian." Only about 4 of the 16 students joined my already extended arm. They looked around the room at one another, just to see where they stood. Then I asked a follow-up question: "Is there a chance that we know someone who is gay or lesbian, but we actually don't know they are?" Pressure was released, and they all nodded and agreed. "Why would we not know?" I asked. A chorus of voices said, "hidden" and "private" and "secret."

Cansu elaborated, "In Turkey, homosexuality is treated as something to be humiliated about. There is pressure to keep it secret or pretend it does not exist." Sedef assented, saying, "If you are gay you might be pushed out of the group." Her classmates nodded and voiced agreement. In a homosocial society where friends, particularly of the same sex, are central and crucial, being excluded from the group can be devastating.

The conversation moved from societal pressures to recent discussions we have had in class about the roles advertising and the Thomas Sabo Charms media play in shaping who we are and our perceptions of beauty and normalcy. Several students recalled the images of men and women kissing in the slide show. We pulled up the slide with the definition of homophobia and looked again at the part of it that refers to a word they have never heard before--heterosexism: "Homophobia is further reinforced by the biased belief that heterosexuality is the only legitimate form of human intimacy. Heterosexism is reinforced again and again in popular music, the media, movies, TV shows, and advertising." The students easily referred to many advertisements we examined as a class in our Media and Culture unit that illustrate this.

by: FIRELEAVES

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