Internet dating as a project: the commodification and rationalisation of online dating

Based on qualitative empirical data from two studies on Internet dating in Slovenia, this paper discusses the social contexts of the Internet dating of heterosexual men and women and homosexual men. Special attention is given to different aspects of the commodification and rationalisation of dating...

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Main Authors: Tjaša Žakelj, Doris Kocon, Alenka Švab, Roman Kuhar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Ljubljana 2015-04-01
Series:Družboslovne Razprave
Subjects:
Online Access:http://druzboslovne-razprave.org/clanek/pdf/2015/78/1/
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author Tjaša Žakelj
Doris Kocon
Alenka Švab
Roman Kuhar
author_facet Tjaša Žakelj
Doris Kocon
Alenka Švab
Roman Kuhar
author_sort Tjaša Žakelj
collection DOAJ
description Based on qualitative empirical data from two studies on Internet dating in Slovenia, this paper discusses the social contexts of the Internet dating of heterosexual men and women and homosexual men. Special attention is given to different aspects of the commodification and rationalisation of dating in the process of forming potential (romantic) partnerships. First, we discuss our respondents’ reasons for using the Internet to get in touch with potential (romantic) partners. Second, we focus on the demands and strategies of targeted market- ing in personal profile writing and, finally, on the process of selecting potential partners. Our study shows that the primary understanding of Internet dating among people who engage in it is its economic nature. Together with targeted marketing and the predeter- mined criteria for choosing interesting others, Internet dating can thus be understood as a market that encourages rationalisation and commodification in the process of forming intimate relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-60f7e2dd67a242019fa6bf6b964922662022-12-21T20:00:23ZengUniversity of LjubljanaDružboslovne Razprave0352-36080352-36082015-04-013178724Internet dating as a project: the commodification and rationalisation of online datingTjaša Žakelj0Doris Kocon1Alenka Švab2Roman Kuhar3University of PrimorskaUniversity of LjubljanaUniversity of LjubljanaUniversity of LjubljanaBased on qualitative empirical data from two studies on Internet dating in Slovenia, this paper discusses the social contexts of the Internet dating of heterosexual men and women and homosexual men. Special attention is given to different aspects of the commodification and rationalisation of dating in the process of forming potential (romantic) partnerships. First, we discuss our respondents’ reasons for using the Internet to get in touch with potential (romantic) partners. Second, we focus on the demands and strategies of targeted market- ing in personal profile writing and, finally, on the process of selecting potential partners. Our study shows that the primary understanding of Internet dating among people who engage in it is its economic nature. Together with targeted marketing and the predeter- mined criteria for choosing interesting others, Internet dating can thus be understood as a market that encourages rationalisation and commodification in the process of forming intimate relationships.http://druzboslovne-razprave.org/clanek/pdf/2015/78/1/Internet datingrationalisationcommodificationpartnershipheterosexual- ityheterosexuality homosexualityheterosexualityhomosexuality
spellingShingle Tjaša Žakelj
Doris Kocon
Alenka Švab
Roman Kuhar
Internet dating as a project: the commodification and rationalisation of online dating
Družboslovne Razprave
Internet dating
rationalisation
commodification
partnership
heterosexual- ity
heterosexuality homosexuality
heterosexuality
homosexuality
title Internet dating as a project: the commodification and rationalisation of online dating
title_full Internet dating as a project: the commodification and rationalisation of online dating
title_fullStr Internet dating as a project: the commodification and rationalisation of online dating
title_full_unstemmed Internet dating as a project: the commodification and rationalisation of online dating
title_short Internet dating as a project: the commodification and rationalisation of online dating
title_sort internet dating as a project the commodification and rationalisation of online dating
topic Internet dating
rationalisation
commodification
partnership
heterosexual- ity
heterosexuality homosexuality
heterosexuality
homosexuality
url http://druzboslovne-razprave.org/clanek/pdf/2015/78/1/
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AT romankuhar internetdatingasaprojectthecommodificationandrationalisationofonlinedating