Media's Power: Shaping Perceptions of Transgender Candidates

This thesis examines the role of the media in narrating and representing transgender individuals, focusing on transgender individuals as political candidates, to determine whether they contribute to discrimination, and if so, in what ways such discrimination occurs. Two Italian political candidates, Vladimir Luxuria and Monica Romano, are analyzed through the analysis of 42 articles from four major Italian newspapers. All of this is done to uncover and analyse the presence of discrimination and stereotypes toward transgender politicians over time, seeking to understand if this phenomenon is still present, has decreased, or remained unchanged. Additionally, the thesis aims to develop and propose an analytical framework that includes recommendations for avoiding discriminatory or stereotypical representations of transgender individuals and the LGBTQI community in media. These recommendations are directed toward the “Ordine dei Gionalisti”, the “Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana” (FNSI) and other professional associations of journalists in Italy. Through the qualitative research conducted, I have been able to demonstrate that media discrimination against transgender individuals, both in politics and otherwise, still exists, but it has improved over time. It is no longer explicit, defamatory, and disrespectful but takes milder forms, albeit still present.