The Perceptions of Teenagers towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Contents in Netflix
Sharifah Nur Syuhada Syed Musa1, Muhammad Azril Izuan Ramlan1*, Mohamed Shafiq Mohamed Syub1, Muhammad Firdaus Daud1, Ku Nurul Atiqah Ku Ahamad1, Ahmad Syakir Salman Salleh @ Abdul Latif1
1 Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Negeri Sembilan Kampus Rembau, Rembau, Malaysia
*Corresponding Author: [email protected] Accepted: 15 September 2020 | Published: 30 September 2020
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Abstract: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) can be considered as an individual sexual orientation and gender characteristics. LGBTQ community constantly get criticized by the society both domestically and internationally. Digital-based content providers such Netflix is seen as trying to normalize the culture among its viewers via its contents including in Malaysia. This research aims to identify the perceptions of LGBTQ culture through content in Netflix among teenagers in Malaysia. Despite being legalized in some countries around the world, there are countries that still do not recognize LGBTQ community. Thus, it leads to various perceptions among the public. This quantitative approach study sought responses from respondents using questionnaires distributed to students in Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Negeri Sembilan Kampus Rembau. The overall findings of the research indicated that the teenagers are starting to be more receptive towards the LBGTQ culture and acknowledge that consumption of such elements in Netflix contributes to the shift. The respondents also felt that there is a need for the government to regulate such contents in Malaysia. Relevant figures and tables are tabulated and key findings are discussed to draw conclusions.
Keywords: LGBTQ, Netflix, Teenagers
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1. Introduction
In a normal norm, the society is segregated into particular groups such as gender male, age, race, marital status and so on. However, in the recent years, sexual orientation has been a hot topic that covers not only in Malaysia, but in whole world. Traditionally, heterosexual is a well-accepted orientation throughout the globe whereby males are attracted to females and vice versa. In the recent years, same sex relationships or better known as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community started to surface in Malaysia (Jegathesan & Abdullah, 2018). It is normal development chore by way of considerate and expressing gender and sexual orientation as well as developing related identities between youth and children. The important traits of a young person’s identity are gender and sexual orientation. However, LGBTQ is relatively a sensitive issue in Malaysia as the community has never been acknowledged by the society. There are many factors that may lead to the development of this community including the Internet video-streaming service platform such as Netflix.
Netflix in Malaysia started in 2016, it provides TV shows and movies that are interesting to our society. Netflix supply show that suit individual personality and interest which has made it the best digital platform, even Netflix is still new in Malaysia, but it feels like they have been like forever in here. Even though Netflix has zero issues getting into Malaysia, it has encountered lot of challenge on other features.
However, Netflix has given the different viewpoint by bringing content from all over world including LGBTQ-related content. The consumption of those contents have caused huge impact among Malaysian especially among teenagers (Prithivi, 2019).
Therefore, this research is aimed to identify the perceptions of Malaysian teenagers on LGBTQ contents in Netflix. Responses from students in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Negeri Sembilan Kampus Rembau were gathered and tabulated into findings to draw conclusion on the topic.
2. Literature Review
LGBTQ Culture in Malaysia
Some countries are banishing in contradiction of approving and permitting LGBTQ yet still legally allowed this community as human right matter (Ali Muhammed & Amuda, 2018).
Malaysia is fully against it because disobedient to the culture, tradition and Islamic principles. Besides, that is an illegal act and there is law that mention in Section 377A of the Penal Code state that as outlaws and against the culture and Islamic principle as the federal religion is Islam.
According to Jegathesan and Abdullah (2018), the foundation LGBTQ community in Malaysia is dim, maybe in order to get non-discriminatory treatment in the society. The LGBTQ community in this country still encounters upset and overwhelming challenges since it has been put on the shed of light through media and some liberal societies.
Even though LGBTQ community has encountered such a depressing treatment in Malaysia, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) also has acknowledged the needs for LGBTQ affiliates to have the rights to protect their sexual minorities in Malaysia, this is to put a stop on discrimination against a person sexual orientation and gender characteristics (SUHAKAM, 2011).
Netflix Content and Censorship in Malaysia
Netflix is an American-based company provides various contents in to its users across the globe including in Malaysia. The fact that Netflix streams on the Internet and they made it clear that there will be no censorship of any kind in their content even when they first landed in Malaysia back in 2016. All shows that are listed is available depending on the region as most of the shows on Netflix are licensed under regional licensing, thus, it is hard for Malaysia to restrict any contents in Netflix. (Anand, 2016). This means, all content including LGBTQ contents are available in Netflix for all users in Malaysia.
However, Netflix has labelled maturity rating in all their contents, which means each Netflix TV show and film has its own maturity rating. This is meant to assist consumer make decisions for themselves. The maturity rating for every film and TV show in Netflix may be different according to country, however the term used are same. For instance, general TV show and film that suitable for all range is categorize as ALL, following with elder kids
categorize as 7+, adolescent categorize as 13+ and mature content as 16+ or 18+. Netflix determines maturity scores in a television series or film by the frequency and effect of mature contents (Netflix, 2019). Despite having these ratings, the consumption of Netflix cannot be restricted by the authority but the decision to consume any content is up to the consumers.
Due to such circumstances, the consumption among Malaysians cannot be monitored nor restricted by the government. It simply means anything that are available in Netflix can be viewed by anyone and the only barrier to this is self-censorship upon viewing. The effects of such consumptions may influence the way the public especially teenagers perceive certain issues including LGBTQ culture.
3. Methodology
Quantitative Research Method
For this research, quantitative approach is selected as the methodology to fulfil the research objective. The collected data are in numerical form derived from the instrument used; survey.
The data then tabulated into tables and figures for further discussion and to draw conclusions.
Survey is particularly helpful instrument to seek or clarify characteristics of a large group. It is also used as a manner to rapidly gain some overall information about one's population of concern to assist preparation of a more concentrated data (Ponto, 2015). The researcher has developed questionnaire containing 29 questions that are divided into four sections. 200 surveys had been distributed to students of UiTM Cawangan Negeri Sembilan Kampus Rembau and the responses were gathered and tabulated.
Tables and Figures
All the responses collected from 200 respondents among students in UiTM Cawangan Negeri Sembilan Kampus Rembau and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and tabulated into tables. The followings are some findings that are significant to the research:
Table 1 shows that majority of the respondents are aware that the LGBTQ contents in Netflix are uncensored with 83.5% answered “Yes”. In contrast, only 10% of the respondents answered “No” and another 6.5% answered “Maybe” when asked if they are aware of the uncensored LGBTQ contents in the streaming platform.
Table 1: Aware the LGBTQ scenes in Netflix are uncensored Frequency Percent Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 167 83.5 83.5 83.5
No 20 10.0 10.0 93.5
Maybe 13 6.5 6.5 100.0
Total 200 100.0 100.0
Table 2: Netflix has changed view towards LGBTQ in some ways.
Frequency Percent Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 126 63.0 63.0 63.0
No 49 24.5 24.5 87.5
Maybe 25 12.5 12.5 100.0
Total 200 100.0 100.0
Based on Table 2, it can be seen that a majority of 63% of the respondents said that Netflix has changed their views towards LGBTQ in some ways while 24.5% answered “No”. It is also evident that 12.5% of the respondents were unsure by answering “Maybe” to the question.
Table 4 shows that majority of the respondents have positive tolerance towards LGBTQ contents on Netflix with 45.5% and 17% answered “Agree” and “Strongly Agree”, with a cumulative percentage of 62.5%. In contrast, it can be seen that only 26% and 11.5% of the respondents answered “Disagree” and “Strongly Disagree” respectively to the same questions.
From Table 5 above, it is evident that majority of the respondents agreed (47.5%) and strongly agreed (17%) that the LGBTQ contents in Netflix is excessive. Meanwhile, only 18% of the respondents disagreed and 17.5% strongly disagreed to the statement.
Table 6 indicates that a slim majority of the respondents are more open to LBGTQ culture after watching such content in Netflix with 47% agreed and another 9% strongly agreed to the statement. The remaining respondents disagreed and strongly disagreed with 16.5% and 21.5% respectively.
Table 3: Respondents’ Tolerance Towards LGBTQ contents in Netflix.
Frequency Percent Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
Valid Strongly Disagree 23 11.5 11.5 11.5
Disagree 52 26.0 26.0 37.5
Agree 91 45.5 45.5 83.0
Strongly Agree 34 17.0 17.0 100.0
Total 200 100.0 100.0
Table 4: LGBTQ scenes in Netflix is excessive.
Frequency Percent Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
Valid Strongly Disagree 35 17.5 17.5 17.5
Disagree 36 18.0 18.0 35.5
Agree 95 47.5 47.5 83.0
Strongly Agree 34 17.0 17.0 100.0
Total 200 100.0 100.0
Table 5: More Open to LGBTQ culture after watching such content in Netflix.
Frequency Percent Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
Valid Strongly Disagree 33 16.5 16.5 16.5
Disagree 55 27.5 27.5 44.0
Agree 94 47.0 47.0 91.0
Strongly Agree 18 9.0 9.0 100.0
Total 200 100.0 100.0
Table 5 shows that 32.5% and 34.5% of the respondents agreed and strongly agreed to the statement on contents in Netflix should be monitored by the authorities, which made up the majority response among the respondents. While the rest of the respondents felt otherwise.
4. Conclusion
Based on the tabulated data in the previous section, it is evident that the respondents who are also among the students of UiTM Cawangan Negeri Sembilan Kampus Rembau are aware that the contents in Netflix are uncensored. This can be seen through the majority 83.5% of the respondents agreed on this matter (see Table 1). The uncensored contents relate back to the licensing factor as Netflix in Malaysia is licensed under regional licensing, thus making it difficult for the contents to be censored by the authorities. It can be said that the respondents answered in such a way because they may have watched uncensored contents in Netflix.
In addition, the respondents also felt that the LGBTQ contents in Netflix is excessive. This can be seen in Table 4 whereby majority of them agreed and strongly agreed with a cumulative percentage of 64.5%. This shows that the teenagers are aware that the LGBTQ contents in Netflix is not only uncensored, but also excessive. However, this does not mean that they will stop viewing such contents in the platform. It means, despite the excessive LGBT contents in Netflix, the teenagers would still watch them. Netflix requires its users to practice self-censorship with the assistance of maturity rating label that they provided.
This research also found that the way teenagers view the LGBTQ culture has shifted after watching such contents in Netflix. Evidently, 63% of the respondents responded “yes” to the question (see Table 2). It indicates despite that the uncensored contents in Netflix, teenagers who still consume the content may have a different perception towards the culture. On the same tone, it is also revealed that the teenagers are more tolerant towards the LGBTQ culture after watching Netflix. As seen in Table 3, a total of 62.5% respondents agreed and strongly agreed that they can tolerate the contents involving LGBTQ in Netflix. The tolerance may be the result of excessive of the content in Netflix and without any censorship from the provider.
After consuming for quite sometimes, the teenagers are getting more tolerant towards the culture as it may seem to be a normal scene to the viewers.
This shift of view and level of tolerance among the teenagers on the LGBTQ culture can be said as a positive shift as the teenagers perceived the culture as something that is tolerable. To amplify this finding, it is also found that the teenagers are more open towards the LGBTQ culture after watching them in Netflix. With a majority of 56% respondents agreed and strongly agreed (see Table 5), it is evident the teenagers are getting more receptive towards LGBTQ contents upon consumption of such content in Netflix. The openness among teenagers may due to the continuous viewing of LGBTQ contents on screen that they became
Table 6: All contents in Netflix should be monitored by the Authorities Frequency Percent Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
Valid Strongly Disagree 34 17.0 17.0 17.0
Disagree 32 16.0 16.0 33.0
Agree 65 32.5 32.5 65.5
Strongly Agree 69 34.5 34.5 100.0
Total 200 100.0 100.0
more open to accept the culture. In the long run, may results for more teenagers to accept the culture as a norm in Malaysia.
However, despite the shifts in perception among teenagers, the finding also indicates that the teenagers still wish for the authorities in Malaysia to monitor and regulate LGBTQ contents in Netflix. As seen in Table 6, a cumulative of 67% of the respondents agreed and strongly agreed that LGBTQ contents need to be monitored. This can be described as the teenagers are aware of the excessive contents in Netflix revolving the culture and it needs to be monitored to suit the local norms.
In conclusion, the findings of this research can be translated as the teenagers are aware that the excessive LGBTQ contents in Netflix and continuous consumption to such contents lead to higher level of tolerance among them. The way teenagers perceived the culture also has shifted towards a more receptive as most of them are more open to the culture in Netlix. Even though it is evident that the perception of teenagers towards the culture is shifting positively, they still feel that the contents in Netflix need to be monitored by the authorities in Malaysia.
References
Ali Muhammed, A., & Amuda, Y. (2018). LGBT: An Evaluation of Shariah Provisions and The Laws of Malaysia and Nigeria. Retrieved from http://www.gjat.my/gjat062018/GJAT062018-2.pdf
Anand, R. (2016). Netflix says shows in Malaysia won’t be censored | Malay Mail. Retrieved from https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2016/01/08/netflix-says-shows- in-malaysia-wont-be-censored/1036689
Jegathesan, A., & Abdullah, S. (2018). Multicultural counseling applications for improved mental healthcare services (pp. 114, 120). IGI Global.
Netflix. (2019). How does Netflix decide the maturity rating on TV shows and movies?.
Retrieved from https://help.netflix.com/en/node/2064
Ponto J. (2015). Understanding and Evaluating Survey Research. Journal of the advanced practitioner in oncology, 6(2), 168–171.
Prithivi Raj, J. (2019). 3 Years with Netflix Malaysia: What Changed?. Retrieved from https://tavesper.tech/2019/02/3-years-with-netflix-malaysia-what-changed/
SUHAKAM. (2011). Respect rights of sexual minorities, gov't reminded. Retrieved from http://www.suhakam.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Respect-rights-of- sexual-minorities-govt-reminded.pdf