Heartstopper has opened a ground-breaking new chapter in LGBTQ+ representation, tween and young adult fiction, and bold queer stories. Through the series we follow the two main characters and their close circle of friends, each on their own journeys to understand their LGBTQ+ identity.\u202fWhile the characters refer to homophobic and transphobic bullying they have experienced in the past, and there are several instances of homophobic victimisation depicted in the series, the show focuses more on the positive relationships and lives the characters are building for themselves. The show provides a fictional, and somewhat rose tinted view of life for LGBTQ+ young people, and may bring about complicated feelings for some in the LGBTQ+ community<\/a>, but Heartstopper provides a joy and hope-filled view of what life could be like for queer young people today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n So here is why you should stop what you\u2019re doing and watch (and read) Heartstopper now \u2013 not just because it\u2019s wonderful, but because decades of psychological research help show why it\u2019s essential viewing for <\/span>everyone<\/span><\/i>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There\u2019s still so much more to learn about the impact of LGBTQ+ representation on attitudes, friendship behaviours and support for equality and social change. Whilst research still highlights the power of face-to-face contact between groups as the best means of fighting prejudice, diverse representations in media could be a potential stepping stone needed to encourage future real-life positive interactions<\/span>. We need to know more about the impact of diverse media portrayals among young people: who they are effective for, when they are most effective, and how long the effects last for.<\/span> It is ours, and other researcher\u2019s goal collectively to investigate these questions further and establish the implications such media effects can have for all subsets of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to move away from simply fostering acceptance or positive attitudes, towards using media to motivate action and support for social change.<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Heartstopper gives us a view of what life could <\/span>and should<\/span><\/i> be like for young LGBTQ+ people. And this is why Heartstopper is so important, and so radical: we need more unapologetic, joyful, positive stories like this, filled with optimism, love and pride.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Find more LGBTQ+ shows for younger audiences\u00a0here,<\/a>\u00a0but a particular shout out to the trailblazing\u00a0Jamie Johnson<\/i> <\/a>(CBBC) aimed at 9-12 year olds<\/span>, and <\/span>She-Ra and the Princesses of Power<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Netflix). Heartstopper<\/a> is available now on Netflix and you can find the books in all good book shops <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hannah Bassom is\u00a0studying for a degree in Psychology<\/a> BSc (Hons) with research interests in LGBTQ+ communities,<\/strong><\/p>\n Abigail Lugg is studying for a degree in Psychology with a placement year BSc (Hons).<\/a> Her research interests lie within mental health, representation, and equality.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n References\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 1 <\/span>Bond, B. J., & Miller, B. (2017). From screen to self: The relationship between television exposure and self-complexity among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth.<\/a>\u202f<\/span>International Journal of Communication<\/span><\/i>,\u202f<\/span>11<\/span><\/i>, 94\u2013112.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 2 <\/span>McInroy, L. B., & Craig, S. L. (2017). Perspectives of LGBTQ emerging adults on the depiction and impact of LGBTQ media representation<\/a>.\u202f<\/span>Journal of Youth Studies<\/span><\/i>,\u202f<\/span>20<\/span><\/i>(1), 32-46.<\/span> https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13676261.2016.1184243<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 3 <\/span>Buchanan, L. B., Tschida, C., Bellows, E., & Shear, S. B. (2020). Positioning children<\/a><\/span>\u05f3<\/span>s literature to confront the persistent avoidance of LGBTQ topics among elementary preservice teachers.\u202f<\/span>The Journal of Social Studies Research<\/span><\/i>,\u202f<\/span>44<\/span><\/i>(1), 169-184. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jssr.2019.01.006<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 4 <\/span>Degner, J., & Dalege, J. (2013). The apple does not fall far from the tree, or does it? A meta-analysis of parent\u2013child similarity in intergroup attitudes. <\/a><\/span>Psychological Bulletin<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>139<\/span><\/i>(6), 1270-1304. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/a0031436<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 5 <\/span>Espelage, D. L., Basile, K. C., Leemis, R. W., Hipp, T. N., & Davis, J. P. (2018). Longitudinal examination of the bullying-sexual violence pathway across early to late adolescence: Implicating homophobic name-calling. <\/a><\/span>Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47<\/span><\/i>(9), 1880\u20131893. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10964-018-0827-4.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 6 <\/span>Toomey, R. B., & Russell, S. T. (2016). The role of sexual orientation in school-based victimization: A meta-analysis. <\/a><\/span>Youth & Society, 48<\/span><\/i>(2), 176\u2013201. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0044118X13483778<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 7 <\/span>Massey, Z. B., Wong, N. C., & Barbati, J. L. (2021). Meeting the (trans)parent: Test of parasocial contact with transgender characters on reducing stigma toward transgender people.<\/a>\u202f<\/span>Communication Studies<\/span><\/i>,\u202f<\/span>72<\/span><\/i>(2), 232-250. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10510974.2021.1876125<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 8 <\/span>Schiappa, E., Gregg, P. B., & Hewes, D. E. (2006). Can one TV show make a difference? Will & Grace and the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis.<\/a>\u202f<\/span>Journal of Homosexuality<\/span><\/i>,\u202f<\/span>51<\/span><\/i>(4), 15-37. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1300\/J082v51n04_02<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 9 <\/span>Vezzali, L., & Stathi, S. (2020). <\/span>Using intergroup contact to fight prejudice and negative attitudes: Psychological perspectives<\/span><\/i><\/a>. Routledge. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4324\/9781351136341<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 10 <\/span>Turner, R. N., & Cameron, L. (2016). Confidence in contact: A new perspective on promoting cross<\/a><\/span>\u2010<\/span>group friendship among children and adolescents.\u202f<\/span>Social issues and Policy Review<\/span><\/i>,\u202f<\/span>10<\/span><\/i>(1), 212-246. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/sipr.12023<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 11 <\/span>Haji, R., & Noguchi, H. (2020). Indirect contact interventions to promote peace in multicultural societies<\/a>. In N. Balvin & D. J. Christie (Eds.), <\/span>Children and peace: From research to action <\/span><\/i>(pp. 57-70). Springer. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-030-22176-8<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 12 <\/span>Abbott, N., Cameron, L., & Thompson, J. (2019). Evaluating the impact of a defender role-play intervention on adolescent\u2019s defender intentions and responses towards name-calling.<\/a>\u202f<\/span>School Psychology International<\/span><\/i>,\u202f<\/span>41<\/span><\/i>(2), 154-169. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0143034319893410<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 13 <\/span>Ant\u00f3nio, R., Guerra, R., & Moleiro, C. (2017). Having friends with gay friends? The role of extended contact, empathy and threat on assertive bystanders\u2019 behavioral intentions<\/a>. <\/span>Psicologia<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>31<\/span><\/i>(2), 15-24. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.17575\/rpsicol.v31i2.1138<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 14 <\/span>Abbott, N., & Cameron, L. (2014). <\/span>What makes a young assertive bystander? The effect of intergroup contact, empathy, cultural openness, and in-group bias on assertive bystander intervention intentions<\/a>. <\/span>
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<\/a><\/p>\n“I am excited to be addressing topics on gender and sexual inequality for my final year project. \u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Watching Heartstopper with my girlfriend filled us with such joy and hope. For anyone in the LGBTQ+ community, it can be so difficult to navigate the journey of discovering their identify within a heterosexual-dominated society. As a bisexual woman, I have seen little to no media that includes LGBTQ+ characters generally, let alone characters which represent my specific identity \u2013as the scarce media that does include such characters often depicts two feminine women in a relationship aimed at a male audience. a book and TV series specifically created for the LGBTQ+ community, and better still young viewers.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
When myself and my girlfriend were growing up, we were surrounded by dominant heterosexual norms, but perhaps greater exposure and diversity in relation to LGBTQ+ media would have helped me work out my sexuality a lot earlier.<\/span><\/h4>\n
Nick, one of the main characters, is bisexual and his story critically demonstrates that it is okay to work out your sexuality and that it can change. Further, Nick’s character challenges gay stereotypes, presenting a popular rugby lad as opposed to the LGBTQ+ camp trope, unpopular kid or \u201ctoken gay\u201d.\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Abigail Lugg\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n“My final year research project will look at the effects of Sex Education and Heartstopper on intergroup relations, so explaining why people should run to watch Heartstopper right now feels like the perfect place to start!\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
In the contemporary society where TikTok is taking the younger world by storm, it is becoming more and more commonplace to be unique. No longer are children as afraid to be themselves \u2013 it is individuality they most crave. Along with this comes greater acceptance for LGBTQ+ communities as the younger generations disregard heteronormality, and instead embrace the ever-changing spectrum that is sexuality. Heartstopper, and other progressive shows and movies such as Sex Education and Call Me By Your Name, fulfil the need for media that encapsulates this emerging enthusiasm for being different and expressing one\u2019s own preferences without fear.<\/span><\/h4>\n
As a Gen-Z-TikTok-addicted-bisexual, it was shocking to see how accurately the plight of discovering one’s own sexuality was portrayed.\u00a0 From Nick\u2019s confusion over suddenly liking a boy, to panic-searching BuzzFeed quizzes to determine his sexuality for him, to more serious topics such as homophobic bullying, Heartstopper truly shows people what it\u2019s like to<\/span> not be straight.<\/em><\/h4>\n
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Heartstopper works by showing us it\u2019s okay to love who you love and be who you want to be unapologetically.”\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Hannah Bassom<\/span><\/h4>\n
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