Jenna Toppin

                  Media is always depicted in several ways, especially when it comes to representations through the LGBTQ community.  Looking at different television representations of the LGBTQ community, I have done a further analysis examining same-sex relationships in Shonda Rhime’s Grey’s Anatomy. The ABC television show first aired in 2005, back when homosexuality on air was rarely portrayed through media. Even though Grey’s Anatomy doesn’t display a lot of same-sex relationships or representations of the LGBTQ community, Rhimes still makes a good effort to include the diverse sexual orientations in the storyline. Furthermore, I chose to specifically analyze the representation of Sara Ramirez’s role as Dr. Callie Torres, who plays a bisexual, Latina female surgeon in the show.
                  Created by Shonda Rhimes, Grey’s Anatomy was also produced alongside Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Krista Vernoff, Rob Corn, Mark Wilding and Allan Heinberg. I chose to specifically select this media text because I am honestly just a huge fan of the television show. I enjoy Grey’s Anatomy because it truly involves its audience and connects the characters with them on an emotional level. Researcher Lisa Piccolo stated that, “While it may seem like [these] television shows are separate from real life, Grey’s Anatomy does well in capturing the essence of real life with its characters.” This is the main reason why I chose to further analyze the television show and examine how Rhimes represented the LGBTQ community in her works.
                  Sexual relationships are widely conveyed through Grey’s Anatomy. Rhimes slowly begins to elaborate on the various relationships and gender representations through the characters as each season progresses.  Homosexuality was first displayed during season two with two supporting characters of the television show, but was later emphasized and broadly recognized with one prominent character, Dr. Callie Torres, in season four. Dr. Torres is first introduced as a straight female but then later begins to experiment with women and comes out to be known as bisexual.
                  There are a variety of representations throughout Grey’s Anatomy. When analyzing Callie Torres specifically, she represents a traditional Latina woman who is a part of a Catholic family and works as an orthopedic surgeon at Seattle Grace Mercy West/Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital. Initially, Dr. Torres doesn’t quite accept her bisexuality when she begins to get intimate with Dr. Erica Hahn. Because of this rejection, she retaliates against her feelings as she cheats on Dr. Hahn with one of her ex-male partners. This is a common problem for people who are in the LGBTQ community face and Rhimes does a good job associating these real life problems with her characters through this specific sexual orientation representation. Later on, Torres then begins dating pediatric surgeon, Arizona Robins, and this is when she begins to truly accept her bisexuality, and later on gets married to her.
                  Being that Callie Torres comes from a traditional Latin family, once she does accept her bisexuality and shares it with her family, her father immediately disapproves her choices and rejects his daughter. Rhimes wrote in this strong representation of how a traditional Latin family may react because it does go against most of their beliefs, especially since her family is Catholic. Rhimes goes against heteronormative representations through her work as she uses Callie Torres’ character to go against these traditional stereotypes.
                  Grey’s Anatomy really emphasizes on Torres and Robins’ same-sex relationship and Rhimes truly makes it seem “normal,”—which honestly shouldn’t be thought of as anything else. Both characters represent dominant female doctors throughout the show, and they also are an inter-racial couple, which is also an issue for many people in our society. All in all, I believe Rhimes brings a positive attribute to television as she includes a plethora of diverse representations in all aspects of the show.  There is no hate or disapproval towards the same-sex relationship from other characters and it truly opens the acceptance of changing times in our society.
                  As different people watch and enjoy this show, many also consume and react to it in different ways when it comes to stereotypes and representations. I found a similar analysis to mine that looks at both gender and race represented in Grey’s Anatomy, and they make a good point stating “Gender identity and expression is evident throughout the series, and it makes a bold statement about the coming of acceptance of this topic in society, one that was once extremely taboo in society and television.” This type of consumption can lead its audience to be more accepting to our changing society, especially as they see it through the media texts. Those who watch Grey’s Anatomy become emotionally attached and connected to it and the consumption of the show can really change the thoughts of audience members. According to Kivel and Kleiber in an analysis done by Ross, they suggest that it is important for audiences to gather information on LGBT issues through media in order to self-identify and become more aware of possible societal issues. The more LGBT is shared through television, readings, film, entertainment, etc., the more LGBT people are open to discussing their Positionality with society.
                  Shonda Rhimes does an exceptional job including diversity in her work in my opinion. As the creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, as well as the executive producer for How to Get Away with Murder, she makes sure to include diverse casts and a variety of gender representations in each show. In her 2016 Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television speech at the Producers Guild Awards, Rhimes stated, “It’s not trailblazing to write the world as it actually is…I created the content that I wanted to see and I created what I know is normal.” Overall, I have found that Rhimes has done as much as possible in order to continue to grow with our changing society. When looking at the LGBTQ community, I believe she has made it apparent to include diversity into Grey’s Anatomy in the most appropriate way she can.
 
References
 
Mckenzie, Joi-Marie. "Shonda Rhimes Confronts Hollywood's Diversity Problem." ABC News. ABC News Network, 25 Jan. 2016. Web.
 
Rhimes, Shonda Lynn. Grey’s Anatomy. ABC. Los Angeles, 27 Mar. 2005. Television.
 
Ross, Karen. The Handbook of Gender, Sex, and Media. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell. 2014. Print.
 
Piccolo, Lisa. "Moving with the Times: Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation in Grey's Anatomy." Greys Anatomy Analysis. N.p., 31 Mar. 2011. Web.
 
Smith, Kelsey. "Gender and Race Representation Throughout Grey's Anatomy." Gender and Race Representation Throughout Grey's Anatomy. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web.
 

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