Research on the practice of using mobile dating apps
among gay group
Literature 1:
Connell, R. W., & Connell, R. (2005). Masculinities. Univ of California Press.
Hegemonic masculinity is highlighted by Connell, who has illustrated the rigid belief of public that define the meanings of “being a man”. They are required to define and fit themselves in different positions, which reinforces the subordination of women as well. Moreover, a power relationship is patent when comparing different types of masculinities. Wide-ranging conditions are required for being classified as the group of masculinity. For instance, men should be rational and self-controlled, having a muscular body is also necessary. For their class, it is expected that the men should be in middle or upper class, sense of leadership are frequently highlighted. Rigid understandings are even embodied via the expectations of their sexual orientation, heterosexual identity is a crucial factor as long as men want to be ‘successful’.While the other three types of masculinity, including complicit masculinity, marginalized masculinity and subordinated masculinity (Gay masculinity), are positioned in different levels, a hierarchy picture is revealed. Sexual orientation is viewed as an important component of masculinity which implies the impressions of ‘normal’ versus ‘abnormal’. This owe to the possibilities that gay men may represent a violation and a threat of masculinity.
Literature 2:
Rubin, G. (1984). Thinking sex: Notes for a radical theory of the politics of sexuality. Social Perspectives in Lesbian and Gay Studies; A Reader, 100-133.
Rubin has revealed the dominant beliefs of sexuality via the illustrations of “charmed circle”,which include the attitudes, beliefs, and practices related to sex.They are visualized by Rubin through dividing the practises into inner and outer portions.To suggest the applications of sexual behaviors among diverse social groups, some particular behaviors are positioned in the inner circle, implying that they are “privileged’’ and “natural”. For instance, heterosexual, monogamous and coupled sex is regarded as “natural” in the “charmed circle”. On the other hand, other queer possibilities and behaviors such as one-night-stand sex between three people who just met are viewed as “abnormal” and “unnatural” in the “outer circle”. A hierarchy in sexuality is clearly shown.
Literature 3:
Wakeford, N. (2002). New technologies and “cyber-queer” research. Handbook of lesbian and gay studies, 115-144.
In this work, Wakeford has done a critical analysis regarding the research methods in cyberqueer studies. She has suggested four dominant themes in this field, which are “the identity and self-representation of queer individuals online”, “the creation of queer space”, “electronic facilitation of social network and virtual community”, and “new technology and erotic practices”. Wakeford has drawn attention into “the third place”, in which the online users are suggested to have formed community automatically. Therefore, analysis on electronic communication should be done in regards on the creations of both strong and weak ties in the community. Moreover, she has suggested that comparison between online and offline spaces is crucial, and that the pre-assumption of virtual space being a “replacement” of offline world should be eliminated before conducting a research. What Wakeford has emphasized the most is the importance of empirical work, which can significantly contributes to a thorough apprehension of languages in both online and offline community, especially in this fast changing digital world.
Literature 4:
邱偉淳. (2012). 男同志 App 交友的性別展演策略: 霸權還是賦權?. 2012 年中華傳播學會年會]. 嘉義: 靜宜大學. (Enhancement of Hierarchy or Empowerment: Gender As Performance of Gay Community on LBS Apps )
Mobile dating apps seem to be a potential Gender Utopia for gay individuals. However, it is more likely for users to reproduce the offline sexual hierarchy into the virtual community. Research of Yau shown that, although there is absence of pre-written script in the apps, it is in much likelihood that gay users in Taiwan would have online practices with reference to their daily experience in offline world. In other words, hegemonic masculinity is still the mainstream and desired type online. When users with non-mainstream body types want to development an intimate relation with other users, they tend to conceal their “problematic bodies” and represent an image that close to the mainstream online. Moreover, it is no doubt that such virtual community can diminish the sense of isolation of gay individuals. However, the apps offer limited supports in helping users to develop long-term love or peer relationship. Although self-empowerment is possible online, hardly can the requirements in individualism and privatized social networks contribute in reconstructing the existing sexual hierarchy.