Young women online: collaboratively constructing identities¹

1. This paper arises from the UK Economic and Social Research Council-funded seminar series ‘Young Women in Movement: Sexualities, Vulnerabilities, Needs and Norms’ (ESRC RES-451-26-0715), based at Goldsmiths, University of London, 2009–2011.

Abstract

In this paper I examine how young women construct their identities with others in online communities. I argue that the proliferation of social networking and its popularity among young people means that performed identities are increasingly collaboratively constructed, with the individual having less control over their public image than was previously the case. This has implications for how young women can understand themselves. In some ways this leads to an increased visibility and a blurring of public and private, frontstage and backstage arenas. It also, however, makes it possible for girls to gain support for alternative, more marginal, identities through interaction with online communities. I investigate the impact of these communities and the possibility that some may not be entirely benign. I also consider issues of authenticity and performance, and the impact of these on young women’s understanding of and feelings about their bodies. Finally, I discuss possible pedagogic responses to these phenomena.

Keywords:

• gender
• identity
• technology
• body
• girls

Notes

1. This paper arises from the UK Economic and Social Research Council-funded seminar series ‘Young Women in Movement: Sexualities, Vulnerabilities, Needs and Norms’ (ESRC RES-451-26-0715), based at Goldsmiths, University of London, 2009–2011.

2. In Greek mythology, Momus, the god of ridicule and scorn, mocked Hephaestus for not creating man with a window in his breast so that you could see what was going on in his soul. A Momus window is therefore a window into the soul.