Diversity In Rebecca Sugar's Steven Universe

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Since the making of the television, this invention has helped the American public become more accepting of diversity. To the first African American on a prime time tv show, to the first interracial couples shown, television has normalized and celebrated diversity and differences. Cartoons are doing the same for children, and helping them become accepting at childhood. Steven Universe a show on Cartoon Network is a frontrunner in cartoons that show diverse sexualtes. Steven Universe is a coming-to-age story about a preteen half Gem half human boy named Steven fighting monsters and internal issues with his three Crystal Gem guardians. In Rebecca Sugar’s Steven Universe, specifically the episode “Jailbreak”, LGBT relationships are shown having …show more content…

The episode starts with Steven and Ruby frantically looking for Ruby’s other half after they escape their cell. She becomes erratic because she can not find Sapphire. Ruby worries about Sapphire because she is in danger like any other caring couple would. They eventually find each other and worries for each other’s safety. The audience and the couple share this same compassion that if a loved one is hurt they worry; this shared compassion makes the characters likable. Most children are taught that LGBT do not have the same compassion through conditioning. Rebecca sugar is “trying to fight this conditioning by introducing children to LGBT characters who are both 'normal' and likeable”.(Crasta) Ruby says immediately,” Did they hurt you?’(Steven Universe,March 12, 2015) and then finding out Sapphire is safe she …show more content…

When Steven first finds out that Ruby and Sapphire are a couple he doesn’t question it or act surprised. The lack of surprise or questioning shows that the relationship is completely normal and should not cause uproar. These and other normalized portrayals of LGBT can “...help children who identify as gay or bi or trans understand that there is nothing wrong with them.”(Crasta) Furthermore the glossing over of their sexuality shows that it's nothing out of the ordinary. Episodes after “Jailbreak” never point out their gender or sexuality further normalizing LGBT relationships. Their sexuality is not,”...their defining characteristic”; it’s their powers and personalities that are put on spotlight for the viewers.(Crasta) In conclusion, “Jailbreak” by Rebecca Sugar puts light on Ruby and Sappphire’s personalities, not sexualitiy to further normalize LGBT for

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