Men’s mental health is stigmatized with double standards or stereotypes that masculinity and expressing emotions cannot co-exist. “Boys don’t cry. Men are strong and stoic.
On the other hand, people with disabilities need help to live full lives and are seen as inspirational when they do.
These two ideas from American society conflict internally for me as a disabled man. It’s almost like I can’t “man up” because of assumptions based on my physical appearance.
Strangers want to help me. It doesn’t sound that bad, but it takes away my independence. That can lead to feeling less than. (Balancing Male Stereotypes And Disability)
I agree with Telvin that “If Charlie had things going on in his life, like trying to be a serious musician, or just playing video games competitively, or anything else, we can have Charlie experience homophobia in a new setting, which can trigger the trauma of his past bullying.”
It would give the show more complexity. However, if it is less homogenous, it would still be positive, but the characters would have to fall outside the single notes the media has time for.
The Conflict Between Disability and Masculine Ideals
In terms of disability stereotypes, Charlie’s story benefits a nondisabled person. If Heartstopper were a film, all the characters would have less time to make diversity a lived-in facet of these teen lives.
The world is escapism fiction. It attracts people because it isn’t focused on sex or discrimination. The discriminatory situations place blame on the aggressors and not the minority.
Often, wholesome films play into that narrative of discrimination. Heartstopper benefits from the streaming television schedule. While Heartstopper is for all ages and known for love.
Wholesome Impact
Season 3, the most recent season at the time of writing, has the internet littered with reaction videos. People say they weren’t ready for all the emotion. Neither was I, to be honest.
Expectations of the show were that it would be a light show. When Gayety asked, “What has it meant to be on a show that has so much heart, so much representation?
Kit Connor and Joe Locke, who play Nick and Charlie, responded, “It’s an honor. It’s not that often you can be a part of a show that has an impact and people genuinely care about. That’s a special feeling for an actor. (Connor)
Uncomfortable Male Representation
Representations of minorities often follow storylines of misery and focus on the hardships of being in these communities.
Tevin’s Heartstopper article has noted that the boys keep their school clothes on even when the scene conveys they are comfortable with each other.
Telvin asked are the clothes condoms? The perspective Telvin explains is that writers are creating stereotypes for fangirls.
Intersectionality of attraction for these gay and bisexual boys is overtly underscored with Nick following “I didn’t know you were gay.” with “I’m bi, actually.”
The exploration of Nick’s sexuality is where he “wakes up” to how much he’s repressed or gone with because of his mates. Meeting Charlie gave him a point of comparison between what relationships align with his values and authentic self.
Appearances lead to assumptions. Nick is not stereotypically seen as being in a minority community.
And in the world, being able to pass as a cis and straight white male is the most privileged position in societal views. Having an invisible disability comes with many assumptions.
And many in that position have people believe those assumptions will cause both physical and emotional harm.
Internalized ableism is encouraged by media that places characters to serve non-disabled characters. Telvin’s article centers on the notion that it is too rose-tinted to see that its main protagonist is serving someone else, not himself.
