Hetero-sexting as mediated intimacy work: ‘Putting something on the line’

Abstract

This article is concerned with women’s digitally mediated practices of creating and sending private sexual images to men, here referred to as ‘hetero-sexting’. Drawing on material from individual interviews with adult British women about their experiences of hetero-sexting, the article develops an understanding of women’s hetero-sexting practices as a form of female-conducted ‘mediated intimacy work’, constituted by a constant negotiation of female risk taking and male trustworthiness. In doing so, it shows how the women relied on and made active use of the sexting-related risk of digital image abuse as a means to establish and enhance trust and, as such, stress the significance of their hetero-sexting activities as performances of intimacy. Sexting-induced vulnerability was therefore both drawn on and dismissed within the very same accounts of hetero-sexting, as it was applied as a means to perform a new form of normative femininity, namely that of the agentic intimacy worker.

Love in the Time of Corona: Predicting Willingness to Engage in Sexting During the First COVID-19-Related Lockdown

“…Naturally, making oneself vulnerable always carries the risk of being exposed by untrustworthy interaction partners, online and offline. Yet, it is especially this vulnerability that establishes trust and connection (Amundsen, 2020 ). So, instead of demonizing sexting as such, research should begin to investigate its functions.…”

“…As fear of contagion and pandemic mitigation measures forced individuals to minimize physical contact (Dunford, 2020 ), technology-mediated communication gained importance in satisfying the need for intimacy (Ballester-Arnal et al, 2020 ). One way to be intimate without physical contact is sexting, i.e., the exchange of sexually suggestive or explicit texts and (semi-)naked photographs via mobile phones and social media (Albury et al, 2013 ; Amundsen, 2022 ). Research has shown that during the first COVID-19-related lockdown, some people were willing to add sexting to their sexual repertoire (Lehmiller et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Exchanging intimate information generates trust and is a vehicle for developing close relationships (Amundsen, 2022 ; Derlega & Berg, 2013 ). It is the implicit norm that confidentiality is expected in a sexting context and disseminating intimate pictures without the sender’s consent is not acceptable (Hasinoff & Shepherd, 2014 ).…”

Traversing TechSex: benefits and risks in digitally mediated sex and relationships

“…Findings from this study build on existing work 22 to show that people's digital sexual experiences are often about engaging sexual intimacies, and that pleasure and connection are part of many people's online sexual experiences, even where risks are present. 1,10,29 As we know from decades of research on sexual health education, [62][63][64] people's choices and actions in sex and relationships rarely stem from simple, rational choices about risk and safety. Rather, choices and actions sit within a context of social, cultural and sexual practices and pleasures, as well as gendered relationships and patterns of inequality.…”

“…The literature cited above suggests that the benefits of digital technologies can best be understood in the context of human relationships and intimacy, the pursuit of sexual pleasure, or to explore sexual identity and seek information and support for this. 1,4,22,29,30 The form and function of the technology is significant in that the internet enables affordable, accessible connection and the small, portable nature of smart devices enables constant and spontaneous communication, often involving visual communication via photos or video. 4,24,25 However, the functionality of devices or platforms does not wholly determine people's use or experiences of technology within their sex or intimate lives.…”