"You Complete Me": LGBTQ Identity and Romantic Relationships in Glee



LITERATURE



RESEARCH QUESTIONS



GLEE



METHOD



TURNING POINTS



TRAJECTORY



LIMITATIONS



FUTURE DIRECTIONS



Defined as 18-25 years old



Time of experimentation; high

demographic variability



Highly affected by relationships

Lesbian

Gay

Bisexual

Transgender

Queer



Form ideas and expectations;

interpret own experiences



Sexual Scripts



Lack of LGBTQ role models



Turning Points



Any event that changes the

direction or commitment of a

relationship



Ran from 2009 to 2015



121 episodes of

approximately 43 minutes

each



Traditional turning point research is done

by self-report



Watch every episode and identify turning

points as interpreted by viewers



Turning points increase or decrease in

perceived commitment



Modified Retrospective Interview

SUPRATYPES

FREQUENCY

(%)

SUBTYPE

FREQUENCY

(%)

Relational Escalation

39 (35.1)

Discussion of Relationship

Expression of Feelings

Duet

Serious Commitment

Mutual Investment

Relational Reconciliation

New Partner Jealousy

End of Post-Breakup Relationship

10 (25.6)

9 (23.1)

6 (15.4)

5 (13.9)

4 (10.3)

3 (7.69)

1 (2.56)

1 (2.56)

Relational De-Escalation

25 (22.5)

Conflict

Letting Go

Ex in New Relationship/

New Relationship

Unsettled Feelings

Ex/New Relationship Progresses

Misunderstanding

Relational Dissolution

Relationship Trouble

10 (40)

5 (20)

3 (12)

2 (8)

2 (8)

1 (4)

1 (4)

1 (4)

SUPRATYPES

FREQUENCY

_(%)

SUBTYPES

FREQUENCY

_(%)

Positive/Helpful

Gestures

14 (12.6)

Sacrifice

Support

Social Support

Compliment

9 (64)

3 (21)

1 (7.1)

1 (7.1)

Physical Experiences

7 (6.3)

Nonrelational Physical Encounter

First physical encounter

First Kiss

First Sex

Subsequent Physical Encounter

3 (43)

1 (14)

1 (14)

1 (14)

1 (14)

Get-to-know You Time

6 (5.4)

First date/meeting

Self-disclosure

3 (50)

3 (50)

Relational

Transgression

4 (3.6)

Infidelity

Lying

3 (75)

1 (25)

Special Event(s)

3 (2.7)

Holiday

SUPRATYPES

FREQUENCY (%)

Romantic Competition

4 (3.6)

Identity Re-Evaluation

2 (1.8)

Miscellaneous/Uncodable

2 (1.8)

Having Children

1 (.90)

Meeting Family

1 (.90)

Realization about the Relationship

1 (.90)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Never Be en Kissed Never Be en Kissed Never Be en Kissed A Very Glee Chr is tma s Silly Lov e Son g s Silly Lov e Son g s Bla me It On the Al cohol

Original Song Orig

inal Son g Original Song A Night Of Negl ect Pr om Queen Funeral The Purp le Pi ano Pr oject The Fir st Tim e The F irst T ime The Fir st Tim e Michael Big Bro ther

Dance with Somebody Dance with Somebody Dance with Somebody Dance with Somebody

Pr om -as au ru s Goodbye _Makeover The Bre ak U p The Bre ak U p Glease Glee, Act ually Sadie H aw kins I Do I Do Guilty Pleasures Wonder -ful Wond er -fu l Al l or Nothing Lov e, Love, Love Puppet Mast er New New Yor k New New Yor k Tested The U ntitled Rachel B er ry Pr oject Loser Like M e Loser Like M e Homecomi ng Jagged L it tle Tapestry The Hu rt L ocker , Pa rt Tw o The Hu rt L ocker , Pa rt Tw o Tr ansi tioning A Weddi ng A Weddi ng Drea m s Come Tr ue

Relationship Trajectory

Accelerated-arrested

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Never Be en Kissed Never Be en Kissed Never Be en Kissed Never Be en Kissed Never Be en Kissed The Su b stitute A Very Glee Chr is tma s Silly Lov e Son g s Silly Lov e Son g s Silly Lov e Son g s Si lly Lo ve Song s Bla me It On the Al cohol Bla me It On the Al cohol Sexy

Original Song Original Song Original Song Original Song Original Song Original Song

A Night Of Negl ect Bor n Thi s Wa y Pr om Queen Pr om Queen Funeral New Yor k The Purp le Pi ano Pr oject As ian F The Fir st Tim e The Fir st Tim e The Fir st Tim e The Fir st Tim e The Fir st Tim e Ex tr aor d ina ry Merr y Chr is tma s Michael Heart Big Bro ther Big Bro ther

Dance with Somebody Dance with Somebody Dance with Somebody Dance with Somebody Dance with Somebody Dance with Somebody Dance w

ith S omebo dy Pr om -as au ru s Pr om -as au ru s Goodbye Goodbye The N ew R achel Makeover Makeover The Bre ak U p The Bre ak U p The Bre ak U p The Bre ak U p

On

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Off

Linear

47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Love, Love,

Love Movin' Out PuppetMaster Frenemies New NewYork New NewYork New NewYork Tested Tested Rachel BerryThe Untitled Project The Untitled Rachel Berry Project The Untitled Rachel Berry Project

On-Again

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Off-Again

Linear



Turning points and trajectories in line with

what is predicted by research.



Who will be the role model?



Realistic turning points.



Not every character on a TV show has a

large part in every episode.



FOX must comply with television rules

and standards.



Other viewers identify turning points.



Interview LGBTQ viewers about Glee.

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Compare to other relationships on TV.



Need more research and role models

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Important for emerging adults

Ashley Hildebrandt

adallum@uwyo.edu