A Public Presentations of Gendered Bodies: A Look at Gay and Lesbian Online Dating Profiles
This paper examines how stereotypes and media presentations related to gender norms influence public presentations of gay men and lesbian women. Using online profiles from the online dating website Match.com, this paper examines the body types daters use to describe themselves, their ideal date, and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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North Carolina Sociological Association
2012-10-01
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| Series: | Sociation Today |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ncsociology.org/sociationtoday/v102/dating.htm |
| _version_ | 1819033549050740736 |
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| author | Andrew Latinsky |
| author_facet | Andrew Latinsky |
| author_sort | Andrew Latinsky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper examines how stereotypes and media presentations related to gender norms influence public presentations of gay men and lesbian women. Using online profiles from the online dating website Match.com, this paper examines the body types daters use to describe themselves, their ideal date, and if the poster has a photograph of themselves on their profile. These profiles are used as a method of observing public presentations that are in a unique situation to be tailored towards notions of publically displayed social desirability. Findings indicate that gay men present their online bodies as stereotypically masculine and athletic, while lesbian women are willing to display a slightly broader range of body types. In addition, regardless of gender, both gay men and lesbian women present their ideal dates as stereotypically attractive, with gay men having a particular affinity for dating athletic men. Regression analysis suggests that intersectional variables such as race and age influence a person’s willingness to display a profile picture in the public arena. Overall, this study concludes that heteronormative standards of masculinity combined with structural influences from both the media and peer groups likely have an impact on gay men’s ideal gendered body, while the comparative exclusion of lesbian women from these media influences allow other experiences of gender norms slightly more freedom. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T07:19:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff6ec1bebd014a73a37c5bb0ee65c66f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1542-6300 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T07:19:36Z |
| publishDate | 2012-10-01 |
| publisher | North Carolina Sociological Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sociation Today |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff6ec1bebd014a73a37c5bb0ee65c66f2022-12-21T19:11:49ZengNorth Carolina Sociological AssociationSociation Today1542-63002012-10-01102A Public Presentations of Gendered Bodies: A Look at Gay and Lesbian Online Dating ProfilesAndrew LatinskyThis paper examines how stereotypes and media presentations related to gender norms influence public presentations of gay men and lesbian women. Using online profiles from the online dating website Match.com, this paper examines the body types daters use to describe themselves, their ideal date, and if the poster has a photograph of themselves on their profile. These profiles are used as a method of observing public presentations that are in a unique situation to be tailored towards notions of publically displayed social desirability. Findings indicate that gay men present their online bodies as stereotypically masculine and athletic, while lesbian women are willing to display a slightly broader range of body types. In addition, regardless of gender, both gay men and lesbian women present their ideal dates as stereotypically attractive, with gay men having a particular affinity for dating athletic men. Regression analysis suggests that intersectional variables such as race and age influence a person’s willingness to display a profile picture in the public arena. Overall, this study concludes that heteronormative standards of masculinity combined with structural influences from both the media and peer groups likely have an impact on gay men’s ideal gendered body, while the comparative exclusion of lesbian women from these media influences allow other experiences of gender norms slightly more freedom.http://www.ncsociology.org/sociationtoday/v102/dating.htmgay datingonline datinggender norms |
| spellingShingle | Andrew Latinsky A Public Presentations of Gendered Bodies: A Look at Gay and Lesbian Online Dating Profiles Sociation Today gay dating online dating gender norms |
| title | A Public Presentations of Gendered Bodies: A Look at Gay and Lesbian Online Dating Profiles |
| title_full | A Public Presentations of Gendered Bodies: A Look at Gay and Lesbian Online Dating Profiles |
| title_fullStr | A Public Presentations of Gendered Bodies: A Look at Gay and Lesbian Online Dating Profiles |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Public Presentations of Gendered Bodies: A Look at Gay and Lesbian Online Dating Profiles |
| title_short | A Public Presentations of Gendered Bodies: A Look at Gay and Lesbian Online Dating Profiles |
| title_sort | public presentations of gendered bodies a look at gay and lesbian online dating profiles |
| topic | gay dating online dating gender norms |
| url | http://www.ncsociology.org/sociationtoday/v102/dating.htm |
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