How can one convey their gender? Let’s count the ways: Gender Identifiers in Twitter Bios

• In Event: 3563 - Gender and Race in Media Production and Use

Abstract

The digital age has changed the way that we interact with others and the ways in which we communicate. Gender, a social construct, is dependent on its performativity, and this continues to evolve as our media does. This study begins to examine the ways in which gender may be conveyed using social media, by observing the role of gender and use of gender identifiers in over 6 million Twitter bios, using digital trace data. Using this large database of both cross-sectional and longitudinally collected Twitter biographies, we investigate gender differences in the use of gender identifiers, in both individual (male/female, man/woman, boy/girl, etc.) and relational (husband/wife, father/mother, dad/mom, etc.) contexts. The results of these analyses revealed significant differences between men and women in both the types and frequencies of the gender identifiers used, with men being significantly more likely to use almost all types of gendered identifiers. These results may highlight important differences in how men and women related to gendered identities and roles. It may also highlight the ways in which masculinity or maleness is asserted in social media. The significance and implications of these results are discussed in the paper.

Author

• Liam Essig, Penn State University