Abstract:
This thesis examines cases of masculinities online, specifically the public discourse surrounding celebrities’ perceived gender transgressions. Gender transgression, for the purposes of this project, refers to the departure from normative gender presentation, specifically the wearing of normatively feminine clothes, including dresses, skirts, corsets, and high heels. The project conducts a qualitative content analysis of user comments on three celebrities’ transgressions of gender norms on the social media platform Instagram. Several key findings emerged from this analysis: First, gender transgressions remain a highly divisive topic on social media. Second, user comments established boundaries along lines of body size, gender expression, sexuality, and religion to delineate between acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. Third, negative comments worked to externalize the factors contributing to gender transgression away from the individual and towards the work of nefarious forces and omniscient third parties. Lastly, users discussed the possible development of a new form of masculinity popularized by celebrities—one marked by softness, femininity, and social awareness.
Overall, these findings suggest that gender transgressions occupy a controversial position
in internet discourse and are understood to pose a salient threat to the boundaries of acceptable
behavior and the existing social order. This research extends past work on internet discursive
practices relating to masculinity and gender by highlighting the divisive nature of gender
transgressions within social media comments.