Authors :
Ian Wesa Sitati
Volume/Issue :
Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 11 - November
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/ymmr86bu
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/ya8dfuve
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14292484
Abstract :
Internet memes have become a pervasive
cultural phenomenon, shaping and reflecting public
discourses on various societal issues, including gender
norms. This paper explores how memes on social media
construct, challenge, and reinforce conceptions of
masculinity, providing insights into their role as digital
artifacts in gender discourse. Drawing on qualitative
methods, the study analyzes memes from platforms such as
TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, employing thematic
analysis to identify recurring patterns related to
masculinity, including "toxic masculinity," "vulnerable
masculinity," and "satirical masculinity."
Anchored in theories of gender performativity
(Butler, 1990) and intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989), the
analysis reveals how memes function as sites of both
reinforcement and resistance to traditional masculine
ideals. Memes often amplify hegemonic notions of
masculinity—characterized by strength, stoicism, and
dominance—while simultaneously providing spaces for
critique and counter-narratives that challenge these
norms. Furthermore, the study highlights the
intersectional dimensions of masculinity in memes,
examining how race, class, and sexuality intersect with
digital portrayals of manhood.
The findings underscore the dual role of memes in
perpetuating and subverting gendered expectations,
emphasizing their significance as informal tools of
socialization and identity formation. This study
contributes to the broader discourse on gender in digital
media, offering recommendations for fostering inclusive
and diverse portrayals of masculinity in online spaces.
References :
- Butler, J. (1990). Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge.
- Connell, R. W. (1995). Masculinities. University of California Press.
- Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory, and Antiracist Politics. University of Chicago Legal Forum.
- Jackson, A. (2021) Gender Norms and DI
- Kimmel, M. (2008). Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men. HarperCollins.
- Turkle, S. (2011). Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. Basic Books.
Internet memes have become a pervasive
cultural phenomenon, shaping and reflecting public
discourses on various societal issues, including gender
norms. This paper explores how memes on social media
construct, challenge, and reinforce conceptions of
masculinity, providing insights into their role as digital
artifacts in gender discourse. Drawing on qualitative
methods, the study analyzes memes from platforms such as
TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, employing thematic
analysis to identify recurring patterns related to
masculinity, including "toxic masculinity," "vulnerable
masculinity," and "satirical masculinity."
Anchored in theories of gender performativity
(Butler, 1990) and intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989), the
analysis reveals how memes function as sites of both
reinforcement and resistance to traditional masculine
ideals. Memes often amplify hegemonic notions of
masculinity—characterized by strength, stoicism, and
dominance—while simultaneously providing spaces for
critique and counter-narratives that challenge these
norms. Furthermore, the study highlights the
intersectional dimensions of masculinity in memes,
examining how race, class, and sexuality intersect with
digital portrayals of manhood.
The findings underscore the dual role of memes in
perpetuating and subverting gendered expectations,
emphasizing their significance as informal tools of
socialization and identity formation. This study
contributes to the broader discourse on gender in digital
media, offering recommendations for fostering inclusive
and diverse portrayals of masculinity in online spaces.
