Beyond representation: negotiating realism and the positive impact of media narratives with trans audiences

Abstract

The growing presence of trans people in popular culture, including television series, is a well-established fact. However, its broader social impact and particularly consideration of what constitutes a positive representation of the trans community has received little attention from academic literature. This research addresses this gap by focusing on the experiences and interpretations of trans individuals regarding the way they are portrayed in TV series. It does so by conducting a qualitative study of 19 trans Spaniards who participated in two focus groups and nine semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that the participants view their increased representation as a form of retribution for past under-representation. They also associate positive representation with realism, with two of their primary areas of concern being the need to depict authentic situations and individuals, and lack of involvement of trans people in the creative process. Ultimately, this research highlights the role of television series as amplifiers of trans experiences, voices and stories.