Searchable Signatures: Context and the Struggle for Recognition

Schlesselman-Tarango, Gina

doi:10.6017/ital.v32i3.3093

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 9 publications

(4 reference statements)

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“…Instagram now boasts an active monthly user base of 400 million, 75% of those being outside the US (Instagram, 2016) and is considered by young, U.S. adolescents to be their 'most important social network' (Meeker, 2015). Moreover, using hashtags on Instagram, which is interoperable with multiple social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr, and Twitter), users can assert online individual and group identities (Schlesselman-Tarango, 2013), as they can optimize access to content and increase visibility even further.…”

Section: Social Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

Objectifying fitness: A content and thematic analysis of #fitspiration images on social media.

Deighton-Smith

Bell

2018

Psychology of Popular Media Culture

137

132

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Research suggests that exposure to #fitspiration content can result in increased body dissatisfaction. Employing a data-driven approach, the present study examines the nature of images and text contained within #fitspiration posts on social media. First, a content analysis of images labelled as #fitspiration on popular site Instagram (N = 1,000) was performed.People featured in 52% of images, of which nearly 90% of individuals were coded as having low body fat and 55% were coded as muscular. Individuals were typically presented in sexually objectified ways, which varied as a function of gender. Second, a thematic analysis of text from the same set of images (N = 400) was conducted to identify common themes and underlying meaning embedded within the messages. Six themes were developed: (1)

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Section: Social Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

Objectifying fitness: A content and thematic analysis of #fitspiration images on social media.

Deighton-Smith

Bell

2018

Psychology of Popular Media Culture

137

132

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“…A host of other health and fitness blogs and applications contain sexualized images of women that have yet to be studied. Social media like personal blogs, Flikr, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are rapidly becoming the main venues for these reproductions, which are composed of media-consuming members of society (Antunovic & Hardin, 2013;de Vries & Peter, 2013;Schlesselman-Tarango, 2013). Research has fallen short in gaining insight into the effects and implications of how the general public replicates the very images and opinions mainstream media enforces (de Vries & Peter, 2013;Schwarz, 2010).…”

Section: Mainstream Media's Influence On Social Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, SNSs allow people to be themselves and original, yet creating an online identity is a conscious and performed action with a possible end goal of self-enhancement and promotion (Mehdizadeh, 2010;Siibak, 2009). Online performances are exhibitions for the audience to view and judge, and online spaces allow users to feel validated and good about themselves and their accomplishments (Schlesselman-Tarango, 2013;Siibak, 2009).…”

Section: Social Networking Sites As Platforms For Women To Express Thmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These sites keep people connected to family and friends, and they are even used to share information with strangers from different countries (Bolsover, 2011;Gentile et al, 2012;Hogan, 2010;van Dijck, 2013). SNSs allow people to create an online entity where they can virtually interact and share their thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and experiences with others in the same virtual space (Bailey et al, 2013;Bolsover, 2011;Hogan, 2010;Oeldorf-Hirsch & Sundar, 2010;Schlesselman-Tarango, 2013;Schwarz, 2010;van Dijck, 2013). One might decide to share and project only parts of his or her true self and refrain from including information that may damage his or her image.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gentile et al (2012) argued that constructed online identities are not completely fabricated, but manipulated with the intention of creating the best selfreflection. Previous research has focused on how social media is used and abused; however, not much has been published with regard to the Instagram application (Schlesselman-Tarango, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Self-presentation and Social Media

Lupinetti

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Mainstream media representations of women have shaped the concepts of femininity and have influenced the way women view and present themselves in various contexts. Erving Goffman's (1959) Theory on Self-Presentation described how individuals perform roles to project a desired impression to others. Currently, social media platforms allow women to share their lives and interests with a wide-reaching audience. Within this historic context, the purpose of this study was to examine the lives and experiences of amateur female figure competitors who represented themselves and their interests in fitness via photographs on Instagram. Eight women who shared their fitness journeys on social media and who competed in National Physique Committee figure competitions participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis of responses yielded 90 raw data themes and 16 higher-order themes, which were then categorized into four general dimensions. Analysis indicated that Instagram was used to provide motivation, knowledge, and feedback to women in relation to their fitness journeys. They were also gratified by being role models for other women who sought self-improvement. These findings add to the existing research on self-presentation and social media usage in a given sociocultural context and the contested terrain of sports. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many thanks go to Dr. Jessica W. Chin, who encouraged and guided me through the entire thesis process. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and effort in making this idea a reality. To my family and friends who supported me through all of my time in the graduate program, I owe everything to you. Your concern, words of encouragement, cheerleading, and kindness helped get me through this challenging process, and I am forever grateful. My greatest struggle was having the self-confidence and motivation to finish, and your belief in me was what helped me persevere to the end. My committee members were very encouraging and enthusiastic about my research and I appreciate all of your guidance and wisdom. Finally, a special shout out to my participants for the way they changed my perspective on the sport of figure competitions and the way people in the fitness community share their journeys on Instagram. Their willingness to share their stories, beliefs, and attitudes was incredibly inspiring to me as a woman who struggles with body image insecurities and self-confidence. I will always cherish this experience. vi

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