What is non-binary? Matsuno and Budge define non-binary as “an umbrella term that includes those whose identity falls outside of or between male and female identities; as a person who can experience both male and female, at different times, or someone who does not experience or want to have a gender identity at all.” (2017).

In traditional forms of television, there was nearly no representation of non-binary people in live action. The only forms of representation were on animated shows like Sailor Moon, Stevens Universe and The Owl House. However, in the age of streaming, we have seen a broader range of exploration for non-binary people.

Goddard reasons that is because “these new modes of production, distribution, and consumption, defined as they are according to the active desires of niche users rather than the controlled transmission model of the network.” (2018, p471). Examples of streaming shows that have non-binary characters are Sex Education, Our Flag Means Death, and Umbrella Academy. Whilst this representation is excellent, these characters are often underdeveloped side characters whose gender non-conformity is their only character trait or are never explicit in their gender non-conformity.

This lack of exploration echoes Himberg’s (2014) assertion that the branding of diversity allows access to multiple markets simultaneously with the premise that ‘there is someone for everyone to identify with and desire.’ It is interesting to note that Netflix’s biggest TV shows, Squid Game, Bridgerton, and Wednesday, have no queer representation and the company’s flagship show, Stranger Things included such representation after season 3. The business reasoning is that they are still trying to appeal to the biggest audience and societies that do not accept LGBTQ people.

However, in 2023, Amazon Prime released Gen V, an adult explicit superhero spin-off to their flagship show, The Boys. The character of Jordan in Gen V is a gender non-conforming superhero who shifts between one ‘male’ and one ‘female’ form. The streaming show explores Jordan’s gender but does not make it their only storyline. Jordan is an active part of the show’s mystery. This powerful character can fight better than any other, dealing with trust and relationship issues while navigating as a gender-non-conforming person in the superhero landscape. This character shows how far representation has come from mainstream programming that does not acknowledge non-binary people.

Gen V is an excellent example of how streaming “secures specific audience segments and provides a distinctive escape from mainstream programming.” (Asmar et al., 2022) However, we must acknowledge that this increase in diversity is to “sustain media expansion, adapting to the demands of audiences or as a strategy of distinction at times of heightened competition.” (Sarandos, 2021).

As much as we should praise the few shows on streaming services that do represent queer people, it is essential to note that only 11% of the characters on TV shows are LGBTQ. These streaming services still relegate queer characters to a niche category.

By Sarah Angel Majeed 33729881

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References

Asmar, Axelle, et al. “Streaming Difference(S): Netflix and the Branding of Diversity.” Critical Studies in Television: The International Journal of Television Studies, vol. 18, no. 1, 21 Sept. 2022, p. 174960202211295, https://doi.org/10.1177/17496020221129516.

Gen V (2023) [Television Series] Amazon Prime.

Goddard, Michael N, and Christopher Hogg. “Introduction: Trans TV as Concept and Intervention into Contemporary Television.” Critical Studies in Television: The International Journal of Television Studies, vol. 13, no. 4, Dec. 2018, pp. 470–474, https://doi.org/10.1177/1749602018798217. Accessed 19 Feb. 2021.

Himberg, Julia. “Multicasting.” Television & New Media, vol. 15, no. 4, 31 Jan. 2013, pp. 289–304, https://doi.org/10.1177/1527476412474351. Accessed 4 Mar. 2020.

Monro, Surya. “Non-Binary and Genderqueer: An Overview of the Field.” International Journal of Transgenderism, vol. 20, no. 2-3, 21 Jan. 2019, pp. 1–6, https://doi.org/10.1080/15532739.2018.1538841. Schlemmer, Brandon. “Channel-Surfing for the Non-Binary.” 3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing, vol. 2019, no. 1, 1 May 2019,