Date of Award
May 2020
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Media Studies
Advisor(s)
Carol Liebler
Keywords
Content Analysis, Diversity, Intersectionality, LGBT, Music Videos, YouTube
Subject Categories
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
This quantitative study examines the diversity of women included in music videos with relationships between two women through a comparative content analysis. Informed by intersectionality and queer theory, this study investigated the racial diversity, body diversity, gender performance, and tropes present in music videos with queer women couples (n=473) through a quantitative content analysis. This study also compared the diversity and tropes present in music videos made by musicians who identify as lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and queer women and music videos made by non-queer musicians. Quantitative data was collected and reported for musicians who identify outside of the gender binary (e.g. non-binary, gender non-conforming, agender), but they were not included in the comparative analysis in an effort to not misgender these musicians. This thesis reports that the majority of women included in these music videos are white (62.79%), thin (98.73%), feminine (79.07%). In addition, the music videos often contained themes that exploit queer women’s sexuality either by a non-queer artist trying to gain queer women’s viewership or by portraying queer women’s relationships as for men’s pleasure. By analyzing the ways that lesbian, bisexual, and pansexual couples are portrayed in YouTube music videos from 2006-2019, this study asserts that music videos have included more elements of diversity over time–though more diversity is needed to be truly inclusive of all lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and queer women.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Holland, Sierra A., "Examining Diversity in YouTube Music Videos with Queer Women Couples from 2006-2019" (2020). Theses - ALL. 398.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/398
