Studies: TV could reduce homophobia

Christopher Curtis, PlanetOut Network
published Thursday, April 14, 2005

Television could reduce homophobia, according to University of Minnesota Communications research reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Researchers measured feelings toward gay men before and after college students watched episodes of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," "Will & Grace" and "Six Feet Under."



Respondents admitted to feeling less homophobia after watching each show.

Communications professors Edward Schiappa, Dean Hewes and graduate student Peter Gregg say this phenomenon is due to a form of "contact hypothesis," a mechanism for reducing prejudice through contact between majority and minority groups.

While contact hypothesis works through direct interaction, the researchers believe television creates a similar effect. In what the researchers call "parasocial contact hypothesis," subjects reduce their prejudice by watching members of minority groups on TV or in films.

"The study only reinforces what we at GLAAD already know -- that visibility leads to understanding and understanding leads to acceptance. It's really that simple," Damon Romine, entertainment media director for GLAAD, told the PlanetOut Network.

"The more images there are, the greater the understanding, and that leads to tolerance of difference -- and that's something we should all be striving for."

Results of the studies on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Six Feet Under" were published in the journal Communication Monographs. The results from the "Will & Grace" study have not been published.



Fonte: www.gay.com