Abstract
This article discusses the linguistic practice of cybersex and how it is discursively constructed. The analysis is based on naturally occurring, private cybersex conversations from an online community that is not sexual in scope or purpose. It is argued that cybersex participants co-construct narratives that differ from both standard dialogic and polyphonic narratives. Additionally, participants shift between first-, second- and third-person reference forms. It is reasoned that the distinct narrative and style shifts serve as communicative functions in co-constructing a cybersex scene. Although participants rely on mutual engagement and linguistic reciprocity, there are notable gender differences in who constructs the narrative’s ‘complicating action’ and who supports it through linguistic attentiveness (e.g. backchannelling) and responsiveness (e.g. mirroring). Ultimately, it is argued that although cybersex narratives are co-constructed, they are also reflections and reifications of heteronormative ideologies of sex and gender, particularly with respect to sexual agency.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 464-479 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Discourse & Society |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 8 May 2015 |
Keywords
- Cybersex
- discourse
- discourse analysis
- feminist linguistics
- gender
- heteronormativity
- narrative analysis
- narratives
- person reference
- sex talk
- sexual agency
- sexuality
- story-telling
- style shifts
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Chrystie Myketiak
- School of Humanities and Social Science - Subject Lead Politics and Philosophy, Principal Lecturer
- Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender
- Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics
Person: Academic