It was very funny to do a project very unlike the exercises we usually do at university. Going to make and realize ideas we created on our own was really exciting. Although we had a lot of fun, we were confronted with a few problems too.
First of all, the most amazing experience was that the majority of the people we interviewed where really open-minded, willing to talk and they actually had almost all the same opinion: we’re all just the same and the sexuality doesn’t matter anymore. But of course, we also had some experiences which made it really hard to stay objective during the interview, while hearing people say things like “they all belong in prison”. Fortunately statements like this one were really an exception!
Ideas and stereotypes we had in mind weren't really in everybody’s mind. Even though we asked especially for the prejudices set in society, people thought first, we wanted to know if they are pro or contra gay people which wasn't our intention at all. We thought that everybody has a picture in mind that is defining their idea of a “classical” gay man or lesbian, without judging them or trying to categorize people. We all have the opinion that having stereotypes in mind isn't anything bad, we don't try to make people fit in these stereotypes or even exclude these who don´t fit in.
So, especially for older people it was hard to be honest with stereotypes. Very often, they wanted to make clear that they totally accept gays or that they don't see any differences between gay and straight people.
For us it became clear, while working on this subject, that we don't have any friends who entirely fit in one of our categories we created (or media or history did). We accept our gay and straight friends a 100% as they are without putting labels on them; without considering which stereotype they are. It is not a matter (anymore) in our daily life; there are people we like and those we don't.
Some further obstacles emerged when it came to interviewing the people on the streets of Leipzig. Although there were all very open minded and willing to speak freely about the subject, they were all very skeptical about being recorded or even filmed.
We therefore took notes while speaking with them, hoping they would not believe us to be the NSA and would be a next victim of the media. Younger people, so to say students, showed more understanding for our student-project. They did have matters about being filmed but they trusted us not to use the material (recordings and videos) in any further issue or to manipulate their answers. Furthermore, older people had concerns speaking in English and talking about this topic.
Creating a website was a completely new challenge for all of us. Technically, we had to learn how to get along with the new programme weebly (which is actually very easy to understand), licenses on images we don't own or how to cut and edit videos.
It was enriching, we learned lots of new things and enjoyed the group work, the self-organization and the refreshing new challenge.
Last but not least, it’s important to see that the quantity of people we asked isn’t representative at all and can just be seen as a cutout of the social opinion. Although, we asked more or less 20 people, men like women, old and young, we only get a little impression of the diversity of very different opinions. To get the result to a scientifically founded statement, it would be necessary to interview a quite larger number of people (of different age, sex, sexual orientation and profession).
First of all, the most amazing experience was that the majority of the people we interviewed where really open-minded, willing to talk and they actually had almost all the same opinion: we’re all just the same and the sexuality doesn’t matter anymore. But of course, we also had some experiences which made it really hard to stay objective during the interview, while hearing people say things like “they all belong in prison”. Fortunately statements like this one were really an exception!
Ideas and stereotypes we had in mind weren't really in everybody’s mind. Even though we asked especially for the prejudices set in society, people thought first, we wanted to know if they are pro or contra gay people which wasn't our intention at all. We thought that everybody has a picture in mind that is defining their idea of a “classical” gay man or lesbian, without judging them or trying to categorize people. We all have the opinion that having stereotypes in mind isn't anything bad, we don't try to make people fit in these stereotypes or even exclude these who don´t fit in.
So, especially for older people it was hard to be honest with stereotypes. Very often, they wanted to make clear that they totally accept gays or that they don't see any differences between gay and straight people.
For us it became clear, while working on this subject, that we don't have any friends who entirely fit in one of our categories we created (or media or history did). We accept our gay and straight friends a 100% as they are without putting labels on them; without considering which stereotype they are. It is not a matter (anymore) in our daily life; there are people we like and those we don't.
Some further obstacles emerged when it came to interviewing the people on the streets of Leipzig. Although there were all very open minded and willing to speak freely about the subject, they were all very skeptical about being recorded or even filmed.
We therefore took notes while speaking with them, hoping they would not believe us to be the NSA and would be a next victim of the media. Younger people, so to say students, showed more understanding for our student-project. They did have matters about being filmed but they trusted us not to use the material (recordings and videos) in any further issue or to manipulate their answers. Furthermore, older people had concerns speaking in English and talking about this topic.
Creating a website was a completely new challenge for all of us. Technically, we had to learn how to get along with the new programme weebly (which is actually very easy to understand), licenses on images we don't own or how to cut and edit videos.
It was enriching, we learned lots of new things and enjoyed the group work, the self-organization and the refreshing new challenge.
Last but not least, it’s important to see that the quantity of people we asked isn’t representative at all and can just be seen as a cutout of the social opinion. Although, we asked more or less 20 people, men like women, old and young, we only get a little impression of the diversity of very different opinions. To get the result to a scientifically founded statement, it would be necessary to interview a quite larger number of people (of different age, sex, sexual orientation and profession).