Thesis
Relationships and Sexuality in Netflix Teen Movies: A Content Analysis of "The Kissing Booth" & "To All the Boys I've Loved Before"
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005021
Abstract
Younger audiences are constantly exposed to media that portrays romantic and sexual relationships in ways that are oftentimes unhealthy and unrealistic. Through the lens of social cognitive theory and scripting theory, this study seeks to investigate the presence of romantic and sexual content in “The Kissing Booth” and “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” (two popular Netflix trilogies) to better understand the sexual and romantic scripts to which young viewers are exposed. This content analysis explored six movies, in five-minute units of analysis, for a total of 132 units of analysis. Results show that both series similarly portrayed romantic and sexual interactions, and that both lead male romantic interests were responsible for perpetrating benevolent sexism and gender stereotypes. However, “The Kissing Booth” showed more instances of hostile sexism and physical violence, also by the male lead, while “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” focused more on emotional intimacy between characters. In conclusion, romantic media that is targeted to high school age audiences has associated romance and love to sexism and violence, which could influence teenagers’ decision-making and beliefs about relationships.
Metrics
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Details
- Title
- Relationships and Sexuality in Netflix Teen Movies
- Creators
- Beatriz Mendonca Lins Caldas
- Contributors
- Stacey J.T. Hust (Advisor)Jessica F Willoughby (Committee Member)Yoon Joo Lee (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 60
- Identifiers
- 99901019231101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis