Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

2-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Program

Liberal Studies

Advisor

James F. Wilson

Committee Members

David Humphries

Subject Categories

Gender and Sexuality | Personality and Social Contexts | Social Media | Social Psychology and Interaction

Keywords

Transmasculine, Trans, Transgender, Gender, Narrative Identity, Social Media, Master Narratives, Alternative Narratives, Identity Development

Abstract

Narrative identity development is an essential process in how individuals perceive themselves and the world around them. Often, narrative identity is studied in cisgender heterosexual individuals and applied to others without the acknowledgment of individuals that fall outside of these categories. Drawing upon existing literature and autoethnography, this thesis aims to meaningfully bridge this gap by studying the narrative identity development of transmasculine individuals through the lens of social media. This thesis proposes that the use of social media to share gender transition journeys has created a new digital trans and queer narrative for users and viewers. This narrative is essential to the narrative identity development in transmasculine individuals utilizing social media to learn about transitioning, share their transition, and/or find trans community. The thesis argues that (1) social media creates a gender neutral and liminal space where transmasculine individuals are able to present differently and more authentically than what is possible in the real world and (2) this new space creates room for gender to be defined and experienced differently thus, contributing to a new trans and queer narrative that is an alternative to the cisheterosexual master narrative often transmitted through mass media and American culture.

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