Gay Men and Computer Communication: A Discourse of Sex and Identity in Cyberspace

Shaw, David

doi:10.4135/9781446250303.n7

Cited by 52 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Two individuals who have only communicated with one another through computer-mediated means are typically very comfortable disclosing personal information, seeking and providing social support for one another, and revealing intimate details about their respective lives. Shaw (1997) claims the Internet is the new gay bar, a communication space where gay relationship formation thrives. Consequently, if fear and intimidation are preventing adolescents from disclosing their alternative sexualities to their families during the coming-out process, the Internet affords them anonymous safe spaces to discuss these issues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Information-Seeking Practices during the Sexual Development of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: The Influence and Effects of Coming Out in a Mediated Environment

Bond

Hefner

Drogos

2008

Sexuality & Culture

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Constructing a sexual identity is one of the major developmental tasks of adolescence. Applying the Media Practice Model, this study retrospectively examines how self-identifying lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals used media during the commencement of the coming-out process and the effects of media use during this pivotal time of development. Results indicate that the Internet plays a critical role in the development of LGB sexual identities. Heavy users of media during the coming-out process are significantly less likely to communicate openly with their families later in life. However, individuals' reports of loneliness and self-esteem are not affected. Conclusions suggest that mediated forms of communication can be beneficial for sexual exploration among LGB individuals.Keywords Sexual orientation Á Adolescent development Á Media effects Á Family communication Understanding and appreciating one's own sexuality can be an arduous process creating grief and complications for many adolescents. The case is especially true for individuals who realize their sexuality may not fit societal norms. Although adolescents spend a significant amount of time talking about sex and exploring sex in the media (Savin-Williams and Diamond 2004), using the media during sexual exploration could have consequences on the family structure. Research has systematically explored the ways in which family communication is related to media use (Wilson 2004), and how lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) adolescents utilize family communication when dealing with their sexuality (Feldman and Rosenthal 2002). Previous research has not, however, analyzed how each of these

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research suggests that gay men and lesbians are generally high media consumers (Shaw 1997). The contemporary content of television, for example, is replete with growing representations of LGB characters (Fouts and Inch 2005;Hart 2000).…”

Section: The Influence Of Mass Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

Information-Seeking Practices during the Sexual Development of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: The Influence and Effects of Coming Out in a Mediated Environment

Bond

Hefner

Drogos

2008

Sexuality & Culture

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…When the Internet became widely available in the 1990s, it revolutionized the ways in which GBM could connect with one another. The Internet has enabled users inter alia (1) to identify other men much more easily than in many offline social settings where GBM constitute an invisible minority (Grov et al, 2014), and (2) to derive a sense of community and to meet potential sexual partners in a manner that safeguards anonymity (Shaw, 1997). This community can be accessed online in the privacy of one's own home (Weinrich, 1997).…”

Section: Exploring Gay Sexuality On the Internetmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gay Men’s Construction and Management of Identity on Grindr

Jaspal

2016

Sexuality & Culture

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study explores gay men's construction and management of identity on Grindr. A sample of gay men was interviewed and the data were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The following themes are outlined: (1) Constructing and re-constructing identities on Grindr; (2) Bolstering sexual self-efficacy; (3) Managing online and offline identities. Despite the apparent social psychological benefits of geospational gay social networking applications, the pressures of coercive norms on the application as well as perceived "addiction" to it can result in threats to identity, thereby challenging social and psychological wellbeing.

show abstract

“…Liau and colleagues (2006) meta-analysis of MSMs use of the Internet found that as much as 40% of MSM have met sex partners online, 95% CI = 35.2%-45.2%. Meanwhile, MSM identifying as barebackers has been linked to recent exponential growth of the Internet as a medium for meeting potential sex partners (Cooper et al, 1999;Elford et al, 2001;Halkitis, 2001;Parsons, 2005;Shaw, 1997;Weinrich, 1997), with some researchers having argued it is a medium to negotiate barebacking (Gauthier and Forsyth, 1999;Grov, 2004;Halkitis, 2001;Parsons, 2005;Tewksbury, 2003). Klausner and colleagues (2000) best highlighted the powerful medium the Internet serves in facilitating unsafe sex by tracing an outbreak of syphilis among MSM in San Francisco to a particular Internet chat room.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Barebacking, the Internet, and Harm Reduction: An Intercept Survey with Gay and Bisexual Men in Los Angeles and New York City

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Researchers have suggested that intentional unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) among gay and bisexual men (colloquially called barebacking), is on the rise. Further, they have linked this increase in barebacking to the growth of the Internet as a medium for men to meet sex partners. Data were used from large-scale gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) community events in New York and Los Angeles collected between 2003 and 2004. In total 1178 men who have sex with men (MSM) responded to questions about the use of the Internet, willingness to have unplanned UAI, intentions toward planned UAI, and "barebacker identity." Compared to nonbarebackers, barebackers spent significantly more time on the Internet looking for sex and looking for dates. Further, HIV-positive barebackers specifically spent the most time online looking for dates. Further analyses of willingness and intentions to have UAI, and the specific sexual behaviors of self-identified barebackers, found evidence of strategic positioning and serosorting, both harm reduction strategies. These data suggest both HIV-positive and HIV-negative barebackers may be engaged in efforts to reduce the risk of HIV transmission when engaged in unprotected sex.

show abstract

Gay Men and Computer Communication: A Discourse of Sex and Identity in Cyberspace

Cited by 52 publications

References 0 publications

Information-Seeking Practices during the Sexual Development of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: The Influence and Effects of Coming Out in a Mediated Environment

Information-Seeking Practices during the Sexual Development of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: The Influence and Effects of Coming Out in a Mediated Environment

Gay Men’s Construction and Management of Identity on Grindr

Barebacking, the Internet, and Harm Reduction: An Intercept Survey with Gay and Bisexual Men in Los Angeles and New York City

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About