introduction
ENTERING THE REAL WORLD
However, dating applications have largely catered to a broad demographic since its introduction in 1995. It was only in 2009 that a social networking application targeting a specific demographic was introduced. Grindr was launched as a mobile application for the LGBTQIA+ community on March 25, 2009. This success was only followed in 2015 with the introduction of other dating applications that targeted specific demographics.
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The introduction of online dating has challenged the conventional ways of seeking out a romantic partner in recent decades. With the launching of the world’s first online dating website in 1995, the shift from traditional to digital has been realized, introducing a new trajectory to interacting with potential partners in a digital environment. A testament to this continual shift is the continual rise of online dating in recent years.
Since its introduction in 1995, online dating has grown to be popular with advancements in digital technologies. During the early 2000s, the launching of social networking websites increased the number of internet users, thereby contributing to the ubiquity of the Internet and the World Wide Web. The popularity of online dating has significantly surged with the introduction of smartphones in the 2010s as it became a more accessible outlet than computers for social networking and dating applications.
Although the introduction of online dating applications intended for specific demographics effectively segmentized the interests of millions of digital users today, it has become ripe ground for discrimination to flourish. The gay dating scene, even before the introduction of online dating applications, has been rocked with the continued persistence of gender stereotypes as a result of internalized homophobia and the persistence of patriarchal ideologies. This was further amplified in online dating applications as queer individuals tend to be discriminated on their gender expression within the community.
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Online dating applications have incorporated different features to enhance the experience of selection for its users, it has employed various ways to effectively advertise oneself on a platform, creating a persona that exists only in these online spaces. Often, these personas do not reflect the real identity of the user. The curation of such identities are rooted on the preferences of both the user and other users within the dating application.
Who am I?
Online Personas
These preferences often stem from heteronormative gender structures which manifest in traditional gender roles such as the
masculine and the feminine, dominant and submissive, top and bottom.
study
WHAT WAS I MADE FOR?
This case study aims to explore the persistence and perpetuation of masculine stereotypes among queer individuals in online dating applications as a result of internalized homophobia, discrimination, and othering within the LGBTQIA+ community.
A total of three (3) individuals were interviewed who have been subjected to the prevailing preference for masculinity among the community in online dating applications. Eight (8) questions were asked to garner their experiences, observations, and personal insights on the issue.
participants
MEET THE BARBIES
Kurt Liam Dones
University of the Philippines Diliman
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Liam is currently in his fourth year under the BA Broadcast Media Arts and Studies program at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Kristian Arellano
De La Salle University Manila
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Chano is currently in his fourth year under a double degree program of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bachelor of Science in Legal Management in De La Salle University Manila.
Josher Quizon
University of the Philippines Diliman
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Josher acquired his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from De La Salle University Manila. He is currently in his first year in the University of the Philippines College of Law.