Monamodi, Nthabiseng2009-09-152009-09-152009-09-15http://hdl.handle.net/10539/7264Abstract Diversity of representation is a key principle of the role of the media within a democracy. This responsibility is of particular importance to the function of a public service broadcaster as it is required to represent the diversity and the programming interests of all citizens including minority groups. The South African Broadcasting Corporation is charged with this task as well as overcoming its past as a restrictive and bigoted state broadcaster under the apartheid regime. This negative past has forced the SABC to attempt to be inclusive of all groups that were formally marginalised within the South African society. The minority group that is of particular interest to this study are lesbians, whose representation in fictional television programmes on the SABC is critically examined for diversity. These fictional depictions are often reliant on negative stereotypes, which also encourage a limited form of lesbian visibility in the media. Through an analysis of two different programmes Hard Copy and Society on SABC 3 and SABC 1 respectively, the fictional representation of lesbians is viewed critically. We see the manner in which notions such as heteronormativity, stereotype, normalisation, and visibility inform the depiction of lesbianism in these programmes. This analysis is achieved through the application of theories of representation and the critical political economy of the media. A number of conclusions are made. Firstly, the programmes on the SABC in which lesbians are represented are heavily reliant on stereotypes although they are not always inherently negative. Secondly, diversity is limited and restricted as some of the roles are not multi-dimensional and one way in which this occurs is through the relative de-sexualisation of these characters. Finally, entertainment value outweighs the attempts made to depict diversity in the fictional representation of lesbianism within these programmes on the SABC.enThesis