SameSex Marriage in Modern Family IVANA P ALONSO

Same-Sex Marriage in Modern Family IVANA P. ALONSO INGL 4057

About Modern Family � American comedy series which debuted on ABC on 2009 � Mockumentary style, the fictional characters frequently talk directly into the camera � Tells the life and relationship of a family consisted of three immediate ones � Mitchell, Cameron and their adopted daughter Lily

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Social construction or Essentialist Social construction Essentialist �Marriage �Homosexuality �Opposite sex �Gay and lesbian �Same-sex marriage �Heteronormativity relationships

Preambule �Why did this interest me? �What do you believe it is saying to society? �How did society receive this? a. b. c. “La producción trata de tratar el tema de los gays lo más normal posible” Se nos presentan varias situacines que (Mitchell & Cameron) enfrentan como padres homosexuales en una sociedad heterosexista…son una familia tan normal como la tradicional…” “Normal, I guess, representa la realidad de la sociedad moderna”

Queering Relationships �Our society has long viewed queer sexualities as “…deviant, sinful, or both. . ” (Ginsberg, 1999) �Based on the idea that heterosexuality is the ultimate and best form of sexuality �The term family has been synonymous with heterosexuality �Specific brand of heterosexuality (marriage, baby making, monogamy, ownership of property, espousing middle class and white class values) �The biological act of reproduction has been, and continues to be, a “defining feature” of families (Seidman, 1991)

Gayle Rubin (1993) Charmed circle Outer limits �good, normal and �bad, abnormal, natural �heterosexuality �marriage, monogamy �sexual activity �being restricted to the private sphere �same generation unnatural � homosexuality �cross-generational sex �sexual activity outside of marriage �non procreative sex

�When homosexuality is pictured it is hardly sexualized (heterosexuality > homosexuality) �Long term monogamous relationship is superior �Homosexuality approaches legitimacy only so far as it reflects middle class conventional forms (Rubin, 1993) �Heteronormative discourse produces (not repress) gay male subjects (Davin Grindstaff, 2003) Heterosexuality Monogamy (Marriage) Life (Procreation)

Queer Nation (Slagle, 1995) �Queer individuals are unique and that simply because they are different does not justify oppression by the dominant, heterosexist movement �Differences in the various individual identities should be celebrated �Goes for the broadest and most explicit assertion of presence express and communicate they are gay �“We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it” �Queer relationships go against the grain of heteronormativity and heterosexist beliefs and practices �Many same-sex marriages, even domestic parternships do not qualify as queer relationships

Cameron & Mitchell: Traditional Couple Fitzpatrick, Jandt, Myrick & Edgar, 1994 �Homosexual couples are characterized by being closed or sexually exclusive �Traditional – conventional ideological values about relationships, demonstrate interdependence �Tend to avoid conflict more than they realize, but in general are cooperative and conciliatory. �They value parenting, spending time with each other in close proximity and place marriage (duality) over independence

Lesbians, Gays and the Media Fred Fejes & Kevin Petrich (1993) �In the 1980’s “comedy programming presented homosexual characters who, aside from a few stereotypical behaviors (sharper wit, more affeminate or “sensitive” manner”) were heterosexual in every other sense �Gays and lesbians rarely are presented as members of a larger homosexual community, gays and lesbians are secondary or occasional characters who exist primarily in a heterosexual environment �Example: Jay, Gloria, Claire & Phil: white, middle class, married, child conceiving and monogamy

�Sexual behavior between homosexual characters is generally off limits; television homosexuals are desexed and without desire �Mainstream network television does not present gays and lesbians in the context of their own identity, they are woven into the dominant heterosexual metanarrative (Leo, 1989; Gross, in press) �Homophobia has been replaced by heterosexism (Fejes & Petrich)

Traditional �Same sex couples have discovered that relationship stability is facilitated by traditional patterns, they “act out” traditional understanding of ongoing relationships �There are more traditional individuals in the homosexual than in the heterosexual sample �Modern Family portrays liberation theory and heterosexualizes the gay couple as traditional �White middle class and gender roles

Conclusion �Modern Family portrays liberation theory and heterosexualizes the gay relationship �Gays are being heterosexualized �They’re being fit into categories and created by heterosexual customs and beliefs � Queer Nation tries to break the heterosexist system �“A gay or lesbian regular network program with gay or lesbian main characters is far in the future” (Fejes & Petrich, 1993) �More acceptance and less discrimination or censure �Society still has a long road ahead in terms of homosexuality, their acceptance and their movements