Assets, allies, friends, and family: transgender and nonbinary representation in youth-rated animated television

Abstract

Amid the rise of anti-transgender legislation in North America, especially against transgender minors, it is crucial to investigate what discourses about trans people are currently circulating in the media, and what messages they send to both trans and non-trans people. The bulk of trans representation on TV over the last few decades has centred tragic narratives over joyful ones, and reified the gender binary more than challenged it. Even if trans representation is present, it has been one-dimensional, stereotypical, and ultimately harmful to trans people. In this study, I used critical discourse analysis to examine recurring transgender and nonbinary characters in recent youth-rated animated television shows available on Netflix and Disney+. Compared to previous trans representation focusing on tragedy and deficit, the characters within my study were portrayed in significantly positive lights. They were confident in themselves, capable when solving problems and facing down enemies, and fully integrated into their various social groups. Across all the target characters’ narratives, love, joy, and belonging took precedence over rejection, tragedy, and suffering. Positive and holistic trans and nonbinary representation should continue to be included across all forms of media, but especially youth-rated media. Through such representation, trans youth may foster and find joy in their queerness, and audiences may be driven to combat the ever-growing anti-trans moral panic.