“Thanks for Writing, But I'm Not Interested”: A Qualitative Analysis of Men's Experiences of Online Dating

Research investigating the personal experiences of online daters is currently limited. Moreover, evidence implies that men are likely to experience online dating rather differently to their female counterparts and that this discrepancy warrants further investigation. Eight heterosexual adult males aged 18-60 were interviewed about their experiences of and attitudes to using online dating sites and apps. Data were analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis. A number of themes were identified from the data, including “necessary but effective online dating”, reflecting the perceived utility of dating sites and their ability to enhance certainty and reduce rejection salience. “Negative impact on self” was revealed through participants’ experiences of online interactions, with participants demonstrating various protective strategies to maintain self-integrity. “Clouded judgements”, insofar as the intentions of other daters were often more difficult to judge accurately, and “frustration”, relating to negative experiences with online dating platforms and the gendered norms within them, were also noted. The last theme was one of “resiliency” which was demonstrated throughout descriptions of participant experiences. Findings provide a rich narrative of the lived experiences of male online daters and the strategies they employ to reap rewards as well as the barriers to success that they incur

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE: AN INTERSECTIONAL APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP EXPERIENCES OF BISEXUAL-IDENTIFYING ASIAN MEN WITH SAME AND DIFFERENT GENDER PARTNERS

The relationship experiences of bisexual-identifying men of color have been neglected in psychological studies of race, gender, and sexuality. Few studies, if any, have examined the relationship experiences of Asian bisexual men, even though this population’s multiple marginalized and stigmatized social identities increase their health risks (Bryant-Davis, 2007; Carter, 2007; Ching et al., 2018). Bisexuality is commonly defined by an individual’s intimate partner attraction and/or behavior (e.g., Swan & Habibi, 2018), making relationship experiences fundamental to bisexual identity. More generally, intimate relationships can contribute to and/or pose challenges to psychological well-being (Feinstein, et al., 2016; Whitton et al., 2018), yet relatively few studies on bisexual health and well-being have focused on this central life domain. I approached the current study from an intersectional perspective that considers the symbiotic, interactive, and socially constructed experiences of bisexual identity, gender identity, and Asian identity as it influences relationship experiences. The purpose of the current study was to explore bisexual-identifying Asian men’s (BIAM) relationship experiences with same and different gender partners. Participants who self-identified as bisexual, Asian men, who were at least 23 years of age, and were either permanent residents or citizens of North America, were recruited using social media and listservs and then screened for inclusion using a Qualtrics Survey (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) of demographic information. A final sample of 15 participants of diverse gender identities and diverse Asian identities was selected for in-depth interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a Constructivist Grounded Theory Approach (Charmaz, 2014). Each transcript underwent initial coding, focused coding, and memo-ing. Consolidation of focused codes under two major topics a) the influence of gender on relationship dynamics and, b) the experience of bisexual stigma and its influence on relationship experiences captured BIAM’s relationship experiences with same and different gender partners. When describing the influence of gender on their romantic relationships, participants highlighted compatibility and specific relationship dynamics that were often shaped by masculine gender norms. They also described their experiences of bisexual stigma on their choice of partners, their disclosure and concealment decisions, and their fears and experiences of rejection in their relationships with same and different gender partners. Participants also shared their perceptions of how cultural norms related to their race, religion, and/or ethnic background shaped experiences of gender and bisexual stigma in their relationships. BIAM create and maintain their intimate relationships in a social context of bi erasure, bi invisibility, racism, and gendered expectations. The challenge of coping with socially constructed binaries across identity intersections will be discussed along with the implications for relational health and individual psychological health and well-being

The narrated social and sexual experiences of black gay University students who have sex in the closet

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Social & Psychological Research 2017.The aim of this study was to enquire on the narratives of black gay South African university students who are ‘in the closet" i.e. their parents do not know about their sexuality only a few trusted friends within the university space. These narratives focused on their social and sexual experiences which involved their interactions within the university as black gay men in the closet. Four black gay students from two Johannesburg universities aged 21 to 24 participated in this study. The study made use of a qualitative research design grounded in Narrative Theory. Unstructured interviews were conducted and the collected narratives were analysed using Narrative Analysis. Each participant narrated different individual experiences of the university space as well as how they negotiated their sexual practices as gay men who are in the closet. The participants offered knowledge about the university spaces that they occupied as well as the communities in which they were raised. The participants" narratives highlight the intersectional challenges black gay men from township and rural South Africa endure because of social constructs of heteronormativity, hegemonic masculinity, religious intolerance and homophobia, all which were perpetuated within these spaces. These challenges also affected their sexual experiences; influencing their lack of interest in sexual intercourse. The study highlights the importance of creating safe spaces for gay people to express their sexuality visibly. The study argues that visibility can challenge social ills experienced by gay people within university spaces and the country at large.MT 201

Type 1 diabetes in men: a grounded theory exploration of life with a chronic illness

Objectives. The objective of this study was to gain an understanding of men’s holistic experience of life with Type 1 diabetes

Behaving disgracefully: the impact of internet dating site use upon the identities of women in middle age

This is a qualitative study that explores the experiences of a group of thirty middle- aged women who, after the loss of a long-term relationship, were using Internet dating sites to find heterosexual relationships and enjoy casual nights out. The research follows women on their journey through their experiences of using dating sites, interacting with men online, and eventually meeting men for offline encounters. The central theme of the thesis is the ways in which women understood and negotiated their identities as single, middle-aged women and how they incorporated often sudden and unexpected change into a linear life story of the self. Central to identity construction were issues of the ageing self over time, sexuality and femininity (and the intersection of all three), which were brought into sharp focus for women entering the dating scene in the middle years. Their experiences of interacting with men, both on and off the dating sites, reveals how women understood, circumvented and challenged heterosexual norms of behaviour and sexuality for the middle-aged woman that were perceived to regulate and restrict their behaviour and use of social space. Importantly however, alongside women's accounts of empowerment as single women sat the almost compulsive desire for male company that fuelled their intensive use of the dating sites. Women were enabled by the dating sites to have many new adventures, date a wide variety of men and enjoy many sexual encounters. This change in behaviour was often perceived as a fundamental challenge to the self as many women understood their dating behaviour as 'acting out of character'. The research shows however, that despite the risk of being placed as 'unrespectable' in the eyes of others, women nevertheless embraced their opportunity to behave 'disgracefully'

Seeking for Love and Intimacy. Emerging Adults, Mobile Dating Affordances and Dating Culture

The security provided by social norms to individuals has been replaced by uncertainty and endless choices. With the advent of the Internet, the effects and dimensions of all these changes have been intricately combined and intertwined. People have discovered new ways to explore their private lives thanks to technological advancements which have augmented their social reality. The Internet has become a social mediator in a way that initiates, accelerates, defines, and even ends communication. Mobile dating applications have accelerated all these processes by influencing binding elements such as time and space, and have added new dimensions to the experiences, ideas, and perspectives of individuals by creating new patterns. Most, if not all, dates and romantic relationships have infiltrated online practices. All these factors affect the way how emerging adults perceive the world and reflect on their personal preferences. The Mobility Paradigm looks beyond immobile socioeconomic systems and fixed cultural identities to provide a new perspective of past and current cultures, thus looking through this lens will help me discover changes in the way romantic relationships are experienced and established. I aim to address this paradigmatic change and explore how these changes take forms through online tools and how they affect and create new patterns of love and dating.The security provided by social norms to individuals has been replaced by uncertainty and endless choices. With the advent of the Internet, the effects and dimensions of all these changes have been intricately combined and intertwined. People have discovered new ways to explore their private lives thanks to technological advancements which have augmented their social reality. The Internet has become a social mediator in a way that initiates, accelerates, defines, and even ends communication. Mobile dating applications have accelerated all these processes by influencing binding elements such as time and space, and have added new dimensions to the experiences, ideas, and perspectives of individuals by creating new patterns. Most, if not all, dates and romantic relationships have infiltrated online practices. All these factors affect the way how emerging adults perceive the world and reflect on their personal preferences. The Mobility Paradigm looks beyond immobile socioeconomic systems and fixed cultural identities to provide a new perspective of past and current cultures, thus looking through this lens will help me discover changes in the way romantic relationships are experienced and established. I aim to address this paradigmatic change and explore how these changes take forms through online tools and how they affect and create new patterns of love and dating

The Grizzly, February 9, 2012

Fong Anticipates Strategic Plan Draft • Crigler Institute Seeks to Foster Community • Job and Internship Fair Returns • Relay for Life to be Held at UC in April • Fighting for Ophelia Combats Bullying • Kathleen Bogle Visits Campus for Hooking Up Lectures • Senior Sullivan Spends Summer Transcribing • Opinion: Sexual Assault a Problem on Campus • Club Sports Gaining Campus\u27 Attention • Eachus Sounds Off: Fans Need to Get Real • Coach Profile: Katie Hagan, Women\u27s Lacrossehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1851/thumbnail.jp

A QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF THE AGENCY OF WOMEN IN THEIR 30S AND 40S WHO USE DATING APPLICATIONS

The use of dating applications (apps) to find romantic and sexual partners is widespread across age groups, however, there is a paucity of research on dating apps with those in middle adulthood. Sexual script theory suggests that women’s agency (i.e. the ability to act in one’s own best interest) may be impacted by expectations from an inherently sexualized context, such as dating apps. Feminist theory contends that women’s agency is complicated by gender socialization due to the imbalance of power in society that greatly favors men. In this study seventeen women aged 30 to 49 completed in-depth semi-structured interviews, and their responses were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Data analysis resulted in identifying themes related to how dating apps pose challenges to women’s agency, the casual nature of apps, positive aspects of dating apps in general and specific to women’s agency, differences and similarities to meeting in-person, and how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting dating app experiences. These results highlight the complicated process of navigating dating app use for women aged 30 to 49 and call for cultural changes relating to gender socialization

Toward an Integrated Self: Making Meaning of the Multiple Identities of Gay Men in College

Since the mid-twentieth century, a shift in demographics of those attending higher education institutions has resulted in increased attention to underrepresented students and their development, specifically their social identities, including race (Cross, 1991), gender (Gilligan, 1982), and sexual orientation (Cass, 1979; D\u27Augelli, 1994; Fassinger, 1998). However, many theories have compartmentalized aspects of one\u27s overall identity with little understanding of how one\u27s social identity may influence the development of other identities. In the past decade, the concept of intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1995), which explores the interplay between one\u27s multiple identities and the larger systems of power and privilege within society, has been applied to understanding the holistic development of college students\u27 multiple social identities (Abes, Jones, & McEwen, 2007; Jones & McEwen, 2000). The purpose of this study was to understand how traditionally-aged gay men in college come to make meaning of the intersections of their gender and sexuality. The research questions for this study included: (a) how do gay men make meaning of their masculinity and sexuality during their college years, (b) in what ways do gender, sexuality, and other dimensions of identity intersect for gay men in college, and (c) what are the critical influences during college on their meaning-making process? Seventeen gay men attending three universities in a metropolitan city in Southern California participated in this constructivist grounded theory study (Charmaz, 2006). Data collection included two in-depth interviews for each participant as well as journaling and an activity using the Model of Multiple Dimensions of Identity as a methodological tool for identity salience. A focus group was held also to discuss the theoretical model and the major themes that emerged. The findings are represented in a theoretical model, depicted as a labyrinth that represents a nested system between the Individual and Societal Contexts. The Individual Context includes five main themes: (1) Sense of Sameness Disappears; (2) Compartmentalizing Identit(ies); (3) Seeking Community; (4) Questioning Allegiances; and (5) Living in the Nexus. The Societal Context includes two main themes: (1) Socialization of Hegemonic Masculinity and the Inherent Tensions and (2) Heteronormativity and Homophobia as Internal and External Influences