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Virtually Belonging: Risk, Connectivity, and Coming Out On-Line

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 05:21 authored by Sally Munt, Elizabeth H Bassett, Kate O'RiordanKate O'Riordan
This essay examines a self-defined, lesbian on-line community focusing on the construction and performance of identity in relation to coming out on-line. Coming out is a central narrative form in the construction of lesbian identity. In considering the implications of coming out in an on-line community, issues of privacy and public space are central. Coming out on-line can be seen as both an alternative to, and augmentation of, coming out off-line. Questioning whether this on-line community sustains performative utterances, the authors explore the relationships between on-line and off-line locales. The construction of boundaries is considered in an analysis of how sexualized bodies emerge in virtual spaces. KEYWORDS: lesbian; coming out; identity; community; on-line.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

International Journal of Sexuality and Gender Studies

ISSN

1566-1768

Publisher

Springer Verlag

Issue

2-3

Volume

7

Page range

125- 137

Pages

13.0

Department affiliated with

  • Media and Film Publications

Notes

From the issue entitled "Queer Webs: Representations of LGBT People and Communities on the World Wide Web"

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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