Active/Passive: The Role Of Internet Communication Among Gays In Serbia Cover Image

Aktivan/Pasivan: Uloga internet komunikacije među gejevima u Srbiji
Active/Passive: The Role Of Internet Communication Among Gays In Serbia

Author(s): Dragan Nikolić
Subject(s): Gender Studies
Published by: Универзитет у Нишу
Keywords: The Internet; Identity; Serbian Gay Community

Summary/Abstract: Anonymity that the Internet provides to its users has significantly contributed in growing presence of this kind of communication, especially among the members of sexual minorities. There is a considerable body of both empirical researches and theo- retical generalizations dealing with the properties of such communication among aforementioned minorities in Anglo-Saxon countries. Having in mind the fact that internet communication became increasingly present in the Balkan region (due to lower prices of computer technologies, the rise in computer literacy among population etc), the work, grounded on a limited empirical base, tends to present accounts on the role and the needs the channel of communication services to its users, via the most visited gay site in Serbia. As opposed to theoretical approaches that stipulate the fa- vorable and affirmative influence of internet communication on social interaction among users, the work demonstrates accounts on utilization of this mode of commu- nication almost exclusively as a tool for securing sexual gratification and maintaining users’ spoiled identity. By drawing from the set of Erving Goffman’s notions on identity management, the work seeks to address the “fluid” character of communica- tion done through the Internet.

  • Issue Year: 2009
  • Issue No: 01
  • Page Range: 103-135
  • Page Count: 33
  • Language: Serbian