Doing ‘Race’ on the Internet: A Study of Online Parenting Communities

Abstract

‘Race’ is an important social category both face-to-face and online. Using online parenting communities as a case study, I investigate how ‘race’ is disclosed on the Internet. I find that ‘race’ is disclosed in these communities through the posting of photos and racialised avatars, and that racial disclosure is a routine practice. I also find that this particular part of cyberspace is a largely white space. As a result, while there are no formal processes of exclusion in this online context, this research shows that there are emerging forms of racial stratification appearing online indicating the ongoing significance of ‘race’.

Keywords:

• Everyday Racism
• Internet
• Online Community
• ‘Race’
• Racial Formation

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Tim Marjoribanks and an anonymous reviewer for their critical comments on this paper, and to Vince Marotta, Editor of the Journal of Intercultural Studies. Thanks also to lilypie.com for permission to use their ticker images.. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the International Sociological Association XVII World Congress of Sociology, 11–17 July 2010, Svenska Mässan, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Karen Farquharson

Karen Farquharson is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Academic Head of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Swinburne University. Her research interests are in the areas of race and ethnic relations, the media, sport and the Internet