Social media and the politics of gender, race and identity: the case of Serena Williams

Authors: Litchfield, C., Kavanagh, E., Osborne, J. and Jones, I.

Journal: European Journal for Sport and Society

Volume: 15

Issue: 2

Pages: 154-170

eISSN: 2380-5919

ISSN: 1613-8171

DOI: 10.1080/16138171.2018.1452870

Abstract:

This study investigates issues of gender, race and identity, as enacted through social media, focusing on the abuse experienced by tennis player Serena Williams during the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. A netnographic analysis of discriminatory or abusive comments relating to Williams were collected from 24 sites on two social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter. These platforms are popular sites commonly used for fan/athlete interaction. Williams identifies as female and African American, therefore intersectionality is adopted to examine the representation of Williams in social media spaces. Several pertinent themes were uncovered relating to Williams including ‘Gender questioning’, ‘Accusations of performance enhancing drugs use’ and ‘Racism’. Such themes showed a simultaneous overlapping of multiple forms of oppression encountered by Williams, reinforcing the notion of the black female athlete as ‘other’ in virtual spaces. Such oppression is perpetuated by the online environment.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/30146/

Source: Scopus

Social media and the politics of gender, race and identity: the case of Serena Williams

Authors: Litchfield, C., Kavanagh, E., Osborne, J. and Jones, I.

Journal: EUROPEAN JOURNAL FOR SPORT AND SOCIETY

Volume: 15

Issue: 2

Pages: 154-170

eISSN: 2380-5919

ISSN: 1613-8171

DOI: 10.1080/16138171.2018.1452870

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/30146/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Social Media and the Politics of Gender, Race and Identity: The case of Serena Williams

Authors: Litchfield, C., Kavanagh, E., Osborne, J. and Jones, I.

Journal: European Journal for Sport and Society

DOI: 10.1080/16138171.2018.1452870

Abstract:

This study investigates issues of gender, race and identity, as enacted through social media, focusing on the abuse experienced by tennis player Serena Williams during the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. A netnographic analysis of discriminatory or abusive comments relating to Williams were collected from 24 sites on two social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter. These platforms are popular sites commonly used for fan/athlete interaction. Williams identifies as female and African American, therefore intersectionality is adopted to examine the representation of Williams in social media spaces. Several pertinent themes were uncovered relating to Williams including ‘Gender questioning’, ‘Accusations of performance enhancing drugs use’ and ‘Racism’. Such themes showed a simultaneous overlapping of multiple forms of oppression encountered by Williams, reinforcing the notion of the black female athlete as ‘other’ in virtual spaces. Such oppression is perpetuated by the online environment.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/30146/

Source: Manual

Social Media and the Politics of Gender, Race and Identity: The case of Serena Williams.

Authors: Litchfield, C., Kavanagh, E.J., Osborne, J. and Jones, I.

Journal: European Journal for Sport and Society

Volume: 15

Issue: 2

Pages: 154-170

ISSN: 1613-8171

Abstract:

This study investigates issues of gender, race and identity, as enacted through social media, focusing on the abuse experienced by tennis player Serena Williams during the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. A netnographic analysis of discriminatory or abusive comments relating to Williams were collected from 24 sites on two social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter. These platforms are popular sites commonly used for fan/athlete interaction. Williams identifies as female and African American, therefore intersectionality is adopted to examine the representation of Williams in social media spaces. Several pertinent themes were uncovered relating to Williams including ‘Gender questioning’, ‘Accusations of performance enhancing drugs use’ and ‘Racism’. Such themes showed a simultaneous overlapping of multiple forms of oppression encountered by Williams, reinforcing the notion of the black female athlete as ‘other’ in virtual spaces. Such oppression is perpetuated by the online environment.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/30146/

Source: BURO EPrints