Intersex Bashing on Fox Network

[queerunity]

House is a popular medical drama that can be seen on the Fox Network. The program recently featured a storyline about an intersex child. The terms "->-bleeped-<-" and "freak of nature" were used to make reference to the child. The House character is usually seen as offensive and other characters are disapproving, and while the shows effort to discuss intersex issues is important, this sort of language is unacceptable as it perpetrates misunderstanding and violence against intersex and gender variant people.

Demand that Fox stop bashing sexual and gender minorities, and to provide more positive and accurate depictions of intersex people.

askfox@foxinc.com

http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2009/02/intersex-bashing-on-fox-network.html

[Pica Pica]

doesn't House talk about everyone like that?

[queerunity]

yes he is offensive but it is still unacceptable for these words to be broadcast IMO. 

[Pica Pica]

but if the intersex people are being treated as rudely on the show as everyone else is, then it's not bashing.

It would break the rules of the fiction if an intersex person came on and suddenly everyone was nice. I bet they had scenes where they realised that the intersexed person was just another child in need of help, where the parents held them, or House smiled gruffly at them. I'm sure the context and moral of the piece wasn't 'bash the intersexed'. I'm very sure they didn't just throw the baby down a rubbish shoot as a waste of time, effort and money.

To petition about a few unwanted words seems a bit silly.

[queerunity]

There is a difference between one character using words that aren't nice, and hateful words.  I think this constitutes hate and puts the lives of intersex and trans folk in jeopardy.

[Sandy]

I've seen the episode.

Actually just about the whole staff is being aggressive against the person.  But not because she has AIS, but because she was underage and seduced her father and every one around her to get her way.  She was a model and had a gorgeous body and big modeling contract.

The female character (Cameron) initially was trying get her to allow her to call in social services against the father because he had intercourse with her.  Cameron lost all respect for her once it was divulged that she had initiated the seduction.

As House episodes go, it wasn't their best.  It was a bit contrived.  AIS is not all that unusual a disease and should have been tested for early on.  But it was dragged out a bit for the story's sake and then the other items of making the child loose morally was simply poor story construction.

I thought it was a bit brutal to refer to the person as a ->-bleeped-<- as well and to say that the correction would be to "Cut her b*lls off."  But by that time, House had no sympathy for the character whatsoever and he was just curing the problem.

-Sandy

[Zelane]

I would like that IS condition were more openly discussed in TV and such. But not in the kind of retarded and stupid way as House and Grey's.

Im really tired of ohh look a FREAK! Its just misleading and the way the scriptwriters made that girl was awful.

So stupid. Have you noticed that IS its starting to be a bit more mainstream? Its kinda scary. I do want people to know more and maybe understand this but I just say: Leave me alone.

[queerunity]

I absolutely think there needs to be more discussion, but when dealing with misunderstood and often persecuted minorities you have to tread lightly and be careful.  Maybe House meant well but this show gets a thumbs down from me.

[Jay]

but if the intersex people are being treated as rudely on the show as everyone else is, then it's not bashing.

Exactly.

[Luc]

Yeah... this is my favorite show. The cases on House involve people from numerous minority groups, etc., and House doesn't really care... he picks on people's insecurities. Guess no one noticed, but there was an intersexed kid on last night's new episode. The topic was treated quite well.

You can get up in arms about everything negative that is said regarding transfolk and all gender-variant peoples, but what's the point? When there's something that truly affects us, no one says a thing, because they're all too afraid. Go for it... keep picking on the little things. I'm sure FOX will really care that someone was offended by its most blatantly misanthropic character.

SD

[Arch]

I've seen the episode.

Actually just about the whole staff is being aggressive against the person.  But not because she has AIS, but because she was underage and seduced her father and every one around her to get her way.  She was a model and had a gorgeous body and big modeling contract.

The female character (Cameron) initially was trying get her to allow her to call in social services against the father because he had intercourse with her.  Cameron lost all respect for her once it was divulged that she had initiated the seduction.

As House episodes go, it wasn't their best.  It was a bit contrived.  AIS is not all that unusual a disease and should have been tested for early on.  But it was dragged out a bit for the story's sake and then the other items of making the child loose morally was simply poor story construction.

I thought it was a bit brutal to refer to the person as a ->-bleeped-<- as well and to say that the correction would be to "Cut her b*lls off."  But by that time, House had no sympathy for the character whatsoever and he was just curing the problem.

-Sandy

Different episode, Sandy.

[Mister]

but if the intersex people are being treated as rudely on the show as everyone else is, then it's not bashing.

It would break the rules of the fiction if an intersex person came on and suddenly everyone was nice. I bet they had scenes where they realised that the intersexed person was just another child in need of help, where the parents held them, or House smiled gruffly at them. I'm sure the context and moral of the piece wasn't 'bash the intersexed'. I'm very sure they didn't just throw the baby down a rubbish shoot as a waste of time, effort and money.

To petition about a few unwanted words seems a bit silly.

*claps*

Also, was it Intersex Awareness Week or something?  There was an intersex baby on Private Practice as well.  that storyline was really good, but i don't think you can accurately represent the current state of acceptance of intersexed births without having at least some negative reaction to genital ambiguity.

[tekla]

Gee, if you want to be offended by Fox, watch the news, not the dramas. 

[Rachael]

chances of fox listening? 0

Tbh, they are rude about everything, and sometimes putting those attitudes out in a fictional character can challenge peoples views of the words and attitudes by proxy...

[Miniar]

I would be more offended if House suddenly became "nice" to a character just because he/she is trans. That to me is "special" treatment of a person based on them being a minority.
I don't want to be treated "special" or "different" because I'm a trans-man. I want to be treated the same way as any other guy. So if "I" were a person on House and he'd be all smiles and "political correctness" I would be bloody insulted.

[TreeFlower]

chances of fox listening? 0

Tbh, they are rude about everything, and sometimes putting those attitudes out in a fictional character can challenge peoples views of the words and attitudes by proxy...

The way to get them to listen is to go after their advertisers.  If advertisers pull out then Fox *will* listen.

[deviousxen]

Gee, if you want to be offended by Fox, watch the news, not the dramas.

Yeah.

[mickie88]

i thought the episode of Private Practice was actaully done decently, imo. it showed a lot of peoples different opinions, the parents the doctors. the doctors told them that a certain percentage of these individuals lean more toward female and it was like I told Brittiney, Daddy would have to make sure that Daddy had his little boy no matter what the cost, and i love the fact that the surgeon couldn't perform the surgery, and then Daddy blew up and out of proportion cause tbh, that's exactly what would happen with any normal male, "I can't look at that and change that diaper everyday, i just can't." I believe were the characters words, (may have paraphrased. I also love the fact that the one woman(black doctor don't remember name) went and found him and told him to stand up and be a man and to take care of his child whether the child decides to be a girl or a boy. i also love the fact that at the end the daddy did come back. i also believe that with the way this show was done and Law and Order SVU's Transition were done were done beautifully. There is at least one or TWO people out there that truly DO understand who we are on more than just a physical level, of that we should all be at least somewhat proud of right.

House is another story all together and i won't go into that....

[Cullen]

it was definately NOT intersex bashing.

the character House said

"You gave birth to a freak of nature, but that's no reason to treat him like one"

the kid said "i'm a freak"  House was using the kids comment abut himself to remind him that, HE IS STILL A PERSON.

Remember,   Topics such as Intersex, ->-bleeped-<-, Homosexuality, especially with children, is a delicate topic.  FOX Network is the LEADING NETWORK to show cases which are otherwise IGNORED.  FOX has the most gay charcters, and issues about TRANSGENDER and INTERSEX.   We should be proud that FOX is shedding light. and yes, the character of House is intended to be an ass, but who tells the truth. he was reminding the parents that their child was still a child, they shouldnt force him to be more masculine etc.

[Miniar]

it was definately NOT intersex bashing.

the character House said

"You gave birth to a freak of nature, but that's no reason to treat him like one"

the kid said "i'm a freak"  House was using the kids comment abut himself to remind him that, HE IS STILL A PERSON.

Remember,   Topics such as Intersex, ->-bleeped-<-, Homosexuality, especially with children, is a delicate topic.  FOX Network is the LEADING NETWORK to show cases which are otherwise IGNORED.  FOX has the most gay charcters, and issues about TRANSGENDER and INTERSEX.   We should be proud that FOX is shedding light. and yes, the character of House is intended to be an ass, but who tells the truth. he was reminding the parents that their child was still a child, they shouldnt force him to be more masculine etc.

Thank you for clearing that up.

What makes it hate is not just "a word" used, but context, attitude, setting.. you know.. the surrounding facts of the case.
This one, Most Deffinately something Positive! Not negative.