Social media and the unsolicited dicpic - constructions of masculinities and femininities among youth

• The use of social media is a central part of young people’s lives and problematic use, e.g., continuing usage despite evidence of harm is not uncommon. Social media offer young people opportunities to harness teenage discourses of social positioning. The dissemination of unsolicited images of the erect male sexual organ, or so called ‘dicpics’, is one way to engage in discursive practices that will position oneself within the context of power relations and enforcing of hegemonic masculinity. The specific aim of our study was to deepen the understanding of boys’ and girls’ experiences of unsolicited ‘dicpics’ and in particular how they construct masculinity and femininity in their understanding of senders and receivers of such images. Method: We conducted ten group interviews separated by gender (3-7 participants each) with Swedish 12-19 years old adolescents in 2019. The interviews took place at Youth Community Centers. The interviews lasted about 60 minutes and were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data was analyzed using latent thematic analysis. Findings: We found one main theme in the interviews; Setting the stage – performed masculinity and the negotiation of gendered social positions. The sender of the unsolicited ‘dicpic’ was a complex matter and was constructed in different ways generating five sub-themes. The construction of the receiving girl on the other hand, had less variation with two sub-themes. Conclusions: There seems to be a discursive gap in boys’ and girls’ understanding of the unsolicited ‘dicpic’. Girls seem to assume that there is some sort of romantic or sexual interest behind this behavior while boys also recognize this behavior as harassment. These findings can inform internet safety educators, legal guardians, and professionals working with young people. However, when addressing the phenomena of the unsolicited ‘dicpic’ it is important also to challenge mainstream constructions of masculinities and femininities.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

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