Living the VirtuReal: Negotiating transgender identity in cyberspace

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53 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper examines the ways transgender users manoeuver between online and offline worlds in order to negotiate their complicated gender identity and to overcome offline impediments. The study is based on virtual ethnography and discourse analysis within two online arenas, a newsgroup and a website, which are central to the Israeli transgender community. The analysis suggests that transgender users employ cyberspace as preliminary, complementary, and/or alternative spheres. Delving deeper into the meaning of the alternative sphere, the paper revisits 2 central issues in Internet research, namely the relationships between the online and the offline worlds, and identity management within online settings. The paper concludes by proposing a new term - VirtuReal - to address these issues.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)824-838
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Computer-Mediated Communication
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cyberspace
  • Discourse Analysis
  • Empowerment
  • Gender
  • Identity
  • Virtuality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Communication

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