Simplified identities: Four ‘types’ of gays and lesbians on Chilean telenovelas

Abstract

Telenovelas have been one of the main mechanisms by which Chilean television has made gay and lesbian identities visible. Through an analysis of over 50 gay or lesbian characters that have appeared on this type of programme from 1990 to 2018, it is argued that Chilean telenovelas have privileged representations of non-heterosexuals that do not destabilise the status quo, but contribute to the reproduction of sexist, homophobic and/or classist discourses. This has been done through the utilisation of four ‘types’ of characters: funny locas, serious machos, fighting mothers and clear lesbians/confused lesbians.