Reaction to TV Bullies:Glee and the Perpetuation of Bullying

     I decided to read Gerald Walton's article TV Bullies: Glee and the Perpetuation of Bullying because I feel very strongly about supporting the LGBTQ students as I understand and see homophobia as a problem in our schools.  I am also concerned with the fact that often times attacks on these youth are instead considered bullying rather than sexual harassment and/or physical violence.  As the librarian in a middle school, I had my first experience of hearing harassment of an accused gay male student by a group of students.  The experience lead me to research, plan several lessons, and continue the conversation about bullying, sexual harassment, and physical and verbal assault.  It took homicides and suicides of gay boys like Tyler Clementi to really get the problem brought to the forefront and supported by prominent people like Ellen DeGeneres, Cyndi Lauper, Kathy Griffin, Daniel Raddcliff, Barack Obama, and Hilary Clinton to discuss the issue and also support LGBTQ youth.

   Chris Colfer who played "openly gay and highly flamboyant Kurt Hummel" in Glee was a spokesperson for the It Gets Better campaign in support of the LGBTQ community.  When the show aired (2009-2015) I had watched for a few seasons.  My take of the show was it draws awareness to the problem but then made it seem like no big deal.  Many forms of bullying were portrayed as wrong but acceptable because they are part of the societal norms.  According to Walton, "The show seems to suggest that bullying is a usual and normal part of growing up- that it builds character".  

 

     This video clip was one that I used because it really sent a strong message and showed how people sometimes learn over time about something right there in their face.  (Kind of like me being oblivious to so many stereotypical features and sexual innuendos in the Disney movies!)  I don't accept or allow these type of comments and taunts to be said and then not  discussed, remediated, and referred for follow-up.  I have witnessed colleagues of mine ignore racial slurs, sexual innuendos, homophobic comments, and cruel comments about looks and weight.  I have even heard colleagues sometimes use them in describing a student in our building.  Many of the scenes of Glee "demonstrate the claim that "boys will be boys"-which is used to legitimize boys' behaviors such as sexual harassment of girls and homophobic assaults on other boys- has harmful if not devastating consequences".  This is why I find myself addressing year after year phrases like "it's so gay", "that's queer", and "fag" or "faggot" to a class of students.  I feel that more teachers, councilors, adults, parents, and community members all need to step up their efforts about speaking to youth about the negative implications and devastating effects this kind of language can cause on so many people.

     Bullying is a huge problem especially in our schools and through social media and the internet it is at epidemic levels!  Walton goes on to explain his theory of why the bullying epidemic continues.  The anxiousness among parents caused a marketplace for products from dvds, to books, or actual programs to address the problem of bullying.  He feel "Corporate interests keep the public concerned and worried about bullies in schools so that anti-bullying products will fly off the shelves".  The reason these products then seem unsuccessful is because they focus on management of behavior.  As stated by Walton "Anti-bullying strategies then are typically punitive or regulatory, such as zero tolerance policies or codes of conduct".

   In conclusion Walton feels that because educating about differences in sexuality and gender performance can be controversial and difficult it gets avoided.  Teaching these things with acceptance, tolerance, and respect could change the outlook.  One such effective and widespread strategy used by the LGBTQ community to gain support are student-led Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).  With strong teacher, staff, and administrative support these groups have made huge impacts in schools.  More open support of LGBTQ students needs to continue to be highlighted in media and community.

RESOURCES

GSA Network- site of LGBTQ youth

Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Network