Young women and ‘technologies of the self’: Social networking and sexualities

abstract

Previously, cellphone ownership in South Africa was for a privileged few, but today it has become an essential part of the adolescent fashion accessory. Similarly, access to the internet is more widespread with the rise of the mobile internet, and online social networking applications are very popular in South Africa, particularly among young people across all social classes. This study explores young women's use of mobile and online social networking sites, with specific reference to expressions and experiences of sexual identity via their mobile phones and popular application Facebook. Through a qualitative approach, this study argues that Facebook and MXit provide a space for play, especially for those whose freedom of movement is limited by parental concerns about safety. Online social networks create a cult of femininity and reflect women's role in society and also socialise young women into these roles. Gender and sexuality are lived social relations and ongoing performative processes that are continuously being negotiated. The micro-narratives and practices highlighted in this study present a snapshot of the lived practices of young women and indicate similarities with global trends in terms of online youth cultures. Young women's use of online and mobile social networking resonates with a global youth culture, with tensions around relationships, self-presentation and sexuality located firmly at the centre.

Keywords:

• Women
• mobiles
• social networking
• Facebook
• internet sexuality

Notes

1. Sexting (sex+texting) refers to the act of sending sexually explicit material, messages or photographs, between mobile phones.

2. Web 2.0 refers to web applications that allow and facilitate participatory interaction and collaboration (versus the one-way communication of Web 1.0).

3. http://www.socialmedialogue.com/facebook-statistics-south-africa-4-million-users-in-april-2011/576/

4. This article uses Foucault's (1988) theoretical construct of ‘technologies of the self’ which he defined as the methods and techniques through which people constitute their identities.

5. The organised practices (mentalities, rationalities, and techniques) through which people are governed or controlled by structures eg governments.

6. Http://www.apc.org/en/system/files/How+Technology+is+Being+Used+to+Perpetrate+Violence+Against+Women+–+And+to+Fight+it.pdf

7. BlackBerry messenger or BBM is an internet based instant messaging service which allows users of BlackBerry smartphones to exchange messages.

8. Whatsapp Messenger is a free a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows users with different handsets to exchange instant messages.

9. Foucault used the circular panoptican prison, in which prisoners never know when they are under surveillance by the invisible guard, to symbolically describe the ongoing surveillance in society.

10. The status update is a short statement that a user posts and that appears in their friends’ (contacts’) newsfeeds on their own wall. It usually contains information about thoughts, geographic location or any other information the user consider important to share.

11. This has been widely covered by the mainstream news media. See eg http://cellphone.appmobilize.com/mobile-news/6459/cellphone-video-sex-act-pupils-spared-court-appearance.