TY - JOUR
T1 - Teen girls, sexual double standards and 'sexting'
T2 - Gendered value in digital image exchange
AU - Ringrose, Jessica
AU - Harvey, Laura
AU - Gill, Rosalind
AU - Livingstone, Sonia
PY - 2013/12/1
Y1 - 2013/12/1
N2 - This article explores gender inequities and sexual double standards in teens' digital image exchange, drawing on a UK qualitative research project on youth 'sexting'. We develop a critique of 'postfeminist' media cultures, suggesting teen 'sexting' presents specific age and gender related contradictions: teen girls are called upon to produce particular forms of 'sexy' self display, yet face legal repercussions, moral condemnation and 'slut shaming' when they do so. We examine the production/circulation of gendered value and sexual morality via teens' discussions of activities on Facebook and Blackberry. For instance, some boys accumulated 'ratings' by possessing and exchanging images of girls' breasts, which operated as a form of currency and value. Girls, in contrast, largely discussed the taking, sharing or posting of such images as risky, potentially inciting blame and shame around sexual reputation (e.g. being called 'slut', 'slag' or 'sket'). The daily negotiations of these new digitally mediated, heterosexualised, classed and raced norms of performing teen feminine and masculine desirability are considered.
AB - This article explores gender inequities and sexual double standards in teens' digital image exchange, drawing on a UK qualitative research project on youth 'sexting'. We develop a critique of 'postfeminist' media cultures, suggesting teen 'sexting' presents specific age and gender related contradictions: teen girls are called upon to produce particular forms of 'sexy' self display, yet face legal repercussions, moral condemnation and 'slut shaming' when they do so. We examine the production/circulation of gendered value and sexual morality via teens' discussions of activities on Facebook and Blackberry. For instance, some boys accumulated 'ratings' by possessing and exchanging images of girls' breasts, which operated as a form of currency and value. Girls, in contrast, largely discussed the taking, sharing or posting of such images as risky, potentially inciting blame and shame around sexual reputation (e.g. being called 'slut', 'slag' or 'sket'). The daily negotiations of these new digitally mediated, heterosexualised, classed and raced norms of performing teen feminine and masculine desirability are considered.
KW - 'sexualisation'
KW - Blackberry Messenger
KW - digital images
KW - Facebook
KW - slut-shaming
KW - social networking
KW - teen femininity
KW - teen masculinity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84885061373&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1464700113499853
DO - 10.1177/1464700113499853
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84885061373
SN - 1464-7001
VL - 14
SP - 305
EP - 323
JO - Feminist Theory
JF - Feminist Theory
IS - 3
ER -