Boobs, back-off, six packs and bits: Mediated body parts, gendered reward, and sexual shame in teens' sexting images

Abstract

In this paper, we explore a contemporary panic around teen sexting considering why it focuses mostly on girls' bodies and 'breasts'. Drawing on empirical findings from research with 13-and 15-year olds in two London schools, we ask: How are girls' and boys' mediated bodies and body parts constructed, negotiated and made sense of in the teen peer group? How are images of girls' breasts surveilled and owned by others? In what ways can images of girls' bodies be used to sexually shame them? How do images of 'boobs' work differently than those of 'six-packs' and 'pecs'? When and how is digital proof of sexual activity shamed or rewarded? Our analysis explores the affective dimensions of digital affordances and how relative gendered value is generated through social media images and practices. We demonstrate how our qualitative research approach facilitates exploration of the online and offline relational, material embodied performance of negotiating gender and sexuality in teen's digitally mediated peer cultures.

The affective, cultural and psychic life of postfeminism: A postfeminist sensibility 10 years on

“…Sarah Riley et al (2016) discuss it as a specifically 'postfeminist gaze'. Peer surveillance has been discussed in relation to social media (Dobson, 2015;Ringrose and Harvey, 2015) and young women's image-sharing practices in relation to 'sexy' pictures . Ana Elias (2016) has also reported on interviews with young women in which they report feeling that they are subject to a 'checklist gaze', involving rapid but forensic scrutiny of the entire body by both friends and strangers.…”

Images across Europe: The sending and receiving of sexual images and associations with interpersonal violence in young people's relationships

“…Distribution of images can be used as a means of showing off (Ringrose and Harvey, 2015), as blackmail or in what has become known as 'revenge porn' where sexual images are shared by an ex-partner as a means of humiliation or for their own amusement (Willard, 2010;Morris, 2014). Sexts can also be taken from their original location on social network sites and uploaded to porn sites (Smith, 2012).…”

‘Confident’ and ‘hot’ or ‘desperate’ and ‘cowardly’? Meanings of young men’s sexting practices in youth sexting culture

“…However, it seemed they constructed men as initiators and 'protectors' of women, and distinguished between 'special' partners whom they respect and those they would 'just' want to have sex with. Ringrose and Harvey (2015) similarly show how young men desire images of young women but derogate those who appear in them as 'shameless'. Thus, it is important to explore how diverse and fluid conceptualisations and expressions of masculinity reproduce (or do not challenge) gendered power relations and inequalities.…”