The Construction of LGBT+ Group’s Images on Douyin Based on Symbolic Interaction Theory

Research Article
Open access

The Construction of LGBT+ Group’s Images on Douyin Based on Symbolic Interaction Theory

Yayu Duan 1*
  • 1 Department of Media and Communication, The University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom    
  • *corresponding author Duanyayu917@st.btbu.edu.cn
LNEP Vol.6
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-915371-37-9
ISBN (Online): 978-1-915371-38-6

Abstract

It is estimated that there are more than 30 million sexual minorities in China as of 2011, yet most of them choose to hide their identities. However, in recent years, the emergence of a variety of new media and the emancipation of ideas make sexual minorities gradually visible, ranging from popular TV series about homosexuality to many homosexual couples’ exposure on social media. In general, the public shows a positive attitude toward them. In this context, this study observes 15 of the most well-known LGBT+ bloggers on Douyin, the most popular short video social platform in China, and conducts a detailed analysis of their videos. It is found that LGBT+ groups have carried out different ways of presentation and interaction on the basis of symbol construction, including creating unique languages, labels, and musical symbols and displaying them in front of the audience with more diverse images. These also make them integrate into the public and get more encouragement from non-sexual minorities. The findings of this study will provide a reference for the creation and dissemination of marginalized groups' symbols in the future, especially in China.

Keywords:

symbolic interaction theory, LGBT+ Group, Douyin

Duan,Y. (2023). The Construction of LGBT+ Group’s Images on Douyin Based on Symbolic Interaction Theory. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,6,1007-1015.
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References

[1]. Li, S. (2021), An Examination and Review of LGBT History in China (Pre-1949), Journal of Heilongjiang Administrative Cadre College of Politics and Law (2), 6-13.

[2]. Parent, M.C., DeBlaere, C., Moradi, B. (2013), Approaches to Research on Intersectionality: Perspectives on Gender, LGBT, and Racial/Ethnic Identities, Sex Roles 68(11), 639-645. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-013-0283-2

[3]. Miles-Johnson, T., Wang, Y. (2018), “Hidden Identities”: Perceptions of Sexual Identity in Beijing, The British Journal of Sociology 69(2), 323-351. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12279

[4]. Lu, H. (2019), From “Gender Stereotyping” to “Associational Discrimination” the Development of LGBTI Employment Discrimination Lawsuits in the USA and Its Implications for China, Peking University Law Journal 31(6), 1660-1676. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1002-4875.2019.06.014

[5]. Meyer, I.H. (2003), Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues and Research Evidence, Psychological Bulletin 129, 674-697. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674

[6]. Niu, L., Wang, Y. (2012), Locale Conversion of Homosexuals, Journal of China Agricultural University (Social Sciences) 29(3), 65-74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13240/j.cnki.caujsse.2012.03.018

[7]. Boersma, M. (2012), Change is rapid on sexual diversity. Retrieved from: https://go.openathens.net/redirector/leeds.ac.uk?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/change-is-rapid-on-sexual-diversity/docview/1024680127/se-2?accountid=14664

[8]. Jernigan, C., Mistree, B.F.T. (2009), Gaydar: Facebook Friendships Expose Sexual Orientation, First Monday 14(10). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v14i10.2611

[9]. Walther, J.B., Van Der Heide, B., Kim, S.Y., Westerman, D., Tong, S.T. (2008), The Role of Friends’ Appearance and Behavior on Evaluations of Individuals on Facebook: Are We Known by the Company We Keep? Human Communication Research 34(1), 28-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.2007.00312.x

[10]. Gray, M.L. (2009), Out in the Country: Youth, Media, and Queer Visibility in Rural America. New York, NY.

[11]. Laukkanen, M. (2007), Non-heterosexual self-representation. In: K. O’Riordan, D.J. Phillips (Eds.) Queer Online: Media Technology & Sexuality. Peter Lang, New York, NY. 81-100.

[12]. Goffman, E. (1968), Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall.

[13]. Green, M., Bobrowicz, A., Ang, C.S. (2015), The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Online: Discussions of Bullying and Self-Disclosure in YouTube Videos, Behaviour & Information Technology 34(7), 704-712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2015.1012649

[14]. Duguay, S. (2016), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer Visibility through Selfies: Comparing Platform Mediators across Ruby Rose’s Instagram and Vine Presence, Social Media + Society 2(2), 1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305116641975

[15]. Pan, S.Y., Zhang, Y.Q. (2014), Virtual Presence: The Interaction Ritual Chain of Online Fan Community, Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication 36(9), 35-46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13495/j.cnki.cjjc.2014.09.003

[16]. Wang, B. (2011), Body, Symbol and Medium, China Youth Study (2), 45-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19633/j.cnki.11-2579/d.2011.02.010

[17]. Mead, G.H. (2005), Mind, Self and Society. Shanghai, Shanghai Translation Publishing House.

[18]. Blumer, H. (1986), Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method. Berkeley, CA, University of California Press.

[19]. Goffman, E. (1959), The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Garden City, Doubleday.

[20]. Cavell, S. (1990), The World Viewed: Reflections on the Ontology of Film. Beijing, China Film Press.

[21]. Meyrowitz, J. (2002), No Sense of Place: The Impact of Electronic Media on Social Behavior. Beijing, Tsinghua University Press.

[22]. Simpson, E., Semaan, B. (2021), For You, or for “You”? Everyday LGBTQ+ Encounters with TikTok, Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 4(CSCW3), 1-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3432951

[23]. Civila, S., Jaramillo-Dent, D. (2022), #Mixedcouples on TikTok: Performative Hybridization and Identity in the Face of Discrimination, Social Media + Society 8(3), 1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051221122464

[24]. Khattab, M. (2020), Synching and Performing: Body (Re)-Presentation in the Short Video App TikTok, WiderScreen 21(1-2), 1-16.

[25]. Zulli, D., Zulli, D.J. (2022), Extending the Internet Meme: Conceptualizing Technological Mimesis and Imitation Publics on the Tiktok Platform, New Media & Society 24(8), 1872-1890. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820983603


Cite this article

Duan,Y. (2023). The Construction of LGBT+ Group’s Images on Douyin Based on Symbolic Interaction Theory. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,6,1007-1015.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies (ICIHCS 2022), Part 5

ISBN:978-1-915371-37-9(Print) / 978-1-915371-38-6(Online)
Editor:Muhammad Idrees, Matilde Lafuente-Lechuga
Conference website: https://www.icihcs.org/
Conference date: 18 December 2022
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.6
ISSN:2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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References

[1]. Li, S. (2021), An Examination and Review of LGBT History in China (Pre-1949), Journal of Heilongjiang Administrative Cadre College of Politics and Law (2), 6-13.

[2]. Parent, M.C., DeBlaere, C., Moradi, B. (2013), Approaches to Research on Intersectionality: Perspectives on Gender, LGBT, and Racial/Ethnic Identities, Sex Roles 68(11), 639-645. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-013-0283-2

[3]. Miles-Johnson, T., Wang, Y. (2018), “Hidden Identities”: Perceptions of Sexual Identity in Beijing, The British Journal of Sociology 69(2), 323-351. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12279

[4]. Lu, H. (2019), From “Gender Stereotyping” to “Associational Discrimination” the Development of LGBTI Employment Discrimination Lawsuits in the USA and Its Implications for China, Peking University Law Journal 31(6), 1660-1676. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1002-4875.2019.06.014

[5]. Meyer, I.H. (2003), Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues and Research Evidence, Psychological Bulletin 129, 674-697. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674

[6]. Niu, L., Wang, Y. (2012), Locale Conversion of Homosexuals, Journal of China Agricultural University (Social Sciences) 29(3), 65-74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13240/j.cnki.caujsse.2012.03.018

[7]. Boersma, M. (2012), Change is rapid on sexual diversity. Retrieved from: https://go.openathens.net/redirector/leeds.ac.uk?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/change-is-rapid-on-sexual-diversity/docview/1024680127/se-2?accountid=14664

[8]. Jernigan, C., Mistree, B.F.T. (2009), Gaydar: Facebook Friendships Expose Sexual Orientation, First Monday 14(10). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v14i10.2611

[9]. Walther, J.B., Van Der Heide, B., Kim, S.Y., Westerman, D., Tong, S.T. (2008), The Role of Friends’ Appearance and Behavior on Evaluations of Individuals on Facebook: Are We Known by the Company We Keep? Human Communication Research 34(1), 28-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.2007.00312.x

[10]. Gray, M.L. (2009), Out in the Country: Youth, Media, and Queer Visibility in Rural America. New York, NY.

[11]. Laukkanen, M. (2007), Non-heterosexual self-representation. In: K. O’Riordan, D.J. Phillips (Eds.) Queer Online: Media Technology & Sexuality. Peter Lang, New York, NY. 81-100.

[12]. Goffman, E. (1968), Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall.

[13]. Green, M., Bobrowicz, A., Ang, C.S. (2015), The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Online: Discussions of Bullying and Self-Disclosure in YouTube Videos, Behaviour & Information Technology 34(7), 704-712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2015.1012649

[14]. Duguay, S. (2016), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer Visibility through Selfies: Comparing Platform Mediators across Ruby Rose’s Instagram and Vine Presence, Social Media + Society 2(2), 1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305116641975

[15]. Pan, S.Y., Zhang, Y.Q. (2014), Virtual Presence: The Interaction Ritual Chain of Online Fan Community, Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication 36(9), 35-46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13495/j.cnki.cjjc.2014.09.003

[16]. Wang, B. (2011), Body, Symbol and Medium, China Youth Study (2), 45-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19633/j.cnki.11-2579/d.2011.02.010

[17]. Mead, G.H. (2005), Mind, Self and Society. Shanghai, Shanghai Translation Publishing House.

[18]. Blumer, H. (1986), Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method. Berkeley, CA, University of California Press.

[19]. Goffman, E. (1959), The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Garden City, Doubleday.

[20]. Cavell, S. (1990), The World Viewed: Reflections on the Ontology of Film. Beijing, China Film Press.

[21]. Meyrowitz, J. (2002), No Sense of Place: The Impact of Electronic Media on Social Behavior. Beijing, Tsinghua University Press.

[22]. Simpson, E., Semaan, B. (2021), For You, or for “You”? Everyday LGBTQ+ Encounters with TikTok, Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 4(CSCW3), 1-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3432951

[23]. Civila, S., Jaramillo-Dent, D. (2022), #Mixedcouples on TikTok: Performative Hybridization and Identity in the Face of Discrimination, Social Media + Society 8(3), 1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051221122464

[24]. Khattab, M. (2020), Synching and Performing: Body (Re)-Presentation in the Short Video App TikTok, WiderScreen 21(1-2), 1-16.

[25]. Zulli, D., Zulli, D.J. (2022), Extending the Internet Meme: Conceptualizing Technological Mimesis and Imitation Publics on the Tiktok Platform, New Media & Society 24(8), 1872-1890. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820983603