Scholarship on the Issue
Academics have always been interested in the implications of heterosexual dating practices on trends in gender equality. As dating trends have shifted online, academics have shifted their focus to the impacts of the new social mechanism for dating on traditional gender roles.
Ellison, Nicole, Rebecca Heino, and Jennifer Gibbs. "Managing Impressions Online: Self-Presentation Processes in the Online Dating Environment." Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 11.2 (2006): 415-41. Wiley Online Library. Web.
In their study, Ellison et. al. investigate self-presentation strategies among online dating participants, exploring how users manage their online presentation of self in order to accomplish the goal of finding a romantic partner. They held interviews with thirty-four individuals active on a large online dating site and learned about their online dating experiences and perceptions. Their analysis of the qualitative data suggests that the lack of nonverbal cues online means that the task of interpreting the remaining cues becomes paramount in regards to both assessment of others and presentation of oneself. The researchers argue that users of online dating mediate this tension between the pressure to self-promote and the need for accurate self-presentation through tactics such as creating a profile that reflects their "ideal self," and attempting to establish the veracity of their identity claims.
In their study, Ellison et. al. investigate self-presentation strategies among online dating participants, exploring how users manage their online presentation of self in order to accomplish the goal of finding a romantic partner. They held interviews with thirty-four individuals active on a large online dating site and learned about their online dating experiences and perceptions. Their analysis of the qualitative data suggests that the lack of nonverbal cues online means that the task of interpreting the remaining cues becomes paramount in regards to both assessment of others and presentation of oneself. The researchers argue that users of online dating mediate this tension between the pressure to self-promote and the need for accurate self-presentation through tactics such as creating a profile that reflects their "ideal self," and attempting to establish the veracity of their identity claims.
Fullick, Melonie. ""Gendering" The Self In Online Dating Discourse." Canadian Journal Of Communication 38.4 (2013): 545-62. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web.
Fullick writes her study in the context of online dating having become an increasingly acceptable way for single people to meet appropriate partners. In her study, she uses discourse analysis to explore the use of language in the construction of gendered identities in 20 online profiles, comparing the norms of gender presentation and communication with the ways in which language is used to signal various kinds of gendered versions of self. Fullick finds that the online philosophy of "more (information) is better" has led to a flexible interface that supports text and images as communication, and thus a much more complex collection of rhetorical devices are available to users. Thus, Fullick argues that dating sites require users to develop a new literacy of self-presentation, one that, she argues, reinforces and re-inscribes the tendency toward promotionalism that already permeates contemporary social life.
Fullick writes her study in the context of online dating having become an increasingly acceptable way for single people to meet appropriate partners. In her study, she uses discourse analysis to explore the use of language in the construction of gendered identities in 20 online profiles, comparing the norms of gender presentation and communication with the ways in which language is used to signal various kinds of gendered versions of self. Fullick finds that the online philosophy of "more (information) is better" has led to a flexible interface that supports text and images as communication, and thus a much more complex collection of rhetorical devices are available to users. Thus, Fullick argues that dating sites require users to develop a new literacy of self-presentation, one that, she argues, reinforces and re-inscribes the tendency toward promotionalism that already permeates contemporary social life.
Hitsch, Günter J., Ali Hortaçsu, and Dan Ariely. "What Makes You Click?—Mate Preferences in Online Dating." Quantitative Marketing and Economics 8.4 (2010): 393-427. Springer Complete Journals. Web.
In their study, Hitsch et. al. estimate mate preferences using a data set from an online dating service, which contains details about users. The data also keeps track of a user's decision to contact a potential mate after viewing his or her profile, which is how the researchers determine a user's preference for another. Based on their analysis of the data, they argue that both men and women have a strong preference for similarity along many (but not all) attributes. In particular, Hitsch et. al. contend that online daters display strong same-race preferences that do not differ across users with different age, income, or education levels in the case of women, and differ only slightly in the case of men. The researchers also argue that there are gender differences in mate preferences online; particularly that women have a stronger preference than men for income over physical attributes.
In their study, Hitsch et. al. estimate mate preferences using a data set from an online dating service, which contains details about users. The data also keeps track of a user's decision to contact a potential mate after viewing his or her profile, which is how the researchers determine a user's preference for another. Based on their analysis of the data, they argue that both men and women have a strong preference for similarity along many (but not all) attributes. In particular, Hitsch et. al. contend that online daters display strong same-race preferences that do not differ across users with different age, income, or education levels in the case of women, and differ only slightly in the case of men. The researchers also argue that there are gender differences in mate preferences online; particularly that women have a stronger preference than men for income over physical attributes.
McWilliams, Summer, and Anne E. Barrett. "Online Dating in Middle and Later Life: Gendered Expectations and Experiences." Journal of Family Issues 35.3 (2013): 411-36. SAGE Journals. Web.
McWilliams and Barrett use semi-structured interviews with eighteen online daters aged 53 to 74 and two romance coaches to examine how aspects of their online expectations and experiences are shaped by age and gender. The researchers found that men seek committed relationships, whereas women desire companionship without demanding caring roles. They argue that intersections of gender and age inequality also influence decisions about self-presentation. The researchers contend that, when women and men realize the age penalty present in the online dating market, they enact various strategies, including (occasionally) misrepresenting actual age and highlighting youthful identities and behaviors. The paper argues that gender shapes these strategies, as women construct youthful images consistent with heteronormative standards of feminine sexuality and attractiveness, while men create profiles highlighting middle-class masculinity, including involvement in paid work and financial stability. The researchers conclude that this self-marketing pressure can create tension with feelings of authenticity, though this does not necessarily relate to their age or gender.
McWilliams and Barrett use semi-structured interviews with eighteen online daters aged 53 to 74 and two romance coaches to examine how aspects of their online expectations and experiences are shaped by age and gender. The researchers found that men seek committed relationships, whereas women desire companionship without demanding caring roles. They argue that intersections of gender and age inequality also influence decisions about self-presentation. The researchers contend that, when women and men realize the age penalty present in the online dating market, they enact various strategies, including (occasionally) misrepresenting actual age and highlighting youthful identities and behaviors. The paper argues that gender shapes these strategies, as women construct youthful images consistent with heteronormative standards of feminine sexuality and attractiveness, while men create profiles highlighting middle-class masculinity, including involvement in paid work and financial stability. The researchers conclude that this self-marketing pressure can create tension with feelings of authenticity, though this does not necessarily relate to their age or gender.
Sritharan, Rajees, Kimberly Heilpern, Christopher J. Wilbur, and Bertram Gawronski. "I Think I like You: Spontaneous and Deliberate Evaluations of Potential Romantic Partners in an Online Dating Context." European Journal of Social Psychology 40.6 (2010): 1062-077. Wiley Online Library. Web.
Sritharan et. al. examine processes of impression formation within an online dating context. Across two studies, the researchers study how female participants form impressions of a potential partner based on an online dating profile containing information about the target's facial attractiveness and self-described ambition. Afterwards, the researchers assess deliberate evaluations of the target with a self-report measure and spontaneous evaluations with an affective priming task. Based on the results, they argue that deliberate evaluations vary as a function of both self-described ambition and facial attractiveness. In contrast, spontaneous evaluations vary only as a function of facial attractiveness. Their second experiment further shows that these effects were independent of the order in which the two types of information had been encoded. The researchers discuss their results in terms of associative and propositional processes. They conclude that the conditions under which these processes exist can lead to conflicting evaluations of the same potential romantic partner.
Sritharan et. al. examine processes of impression formation within an online dating context. Across two studies, the researchers study how female participants form impressions of a potential partner based on an online dating profile containing information about the target's facial attractiveness and self-described ambition. Afterwards, the researchers assess deliberate evaluations of the target with a self-report measure and spontaneous evaluations with an affective priming task. Based on the results, they argue that deliberate evaluations vary as a function of both self-described ambition and facial attractiveness. In contrast, spontaneous evaluations vary only as a function of facial attractiveness. Their second experiment further shows that these effects were independent of the order in which the two types of information had been encoded. The researchers discuss their results in terms of associative and propositional processes. They conclude that the conditions under which these processes exist can lead to conflicting evaluations of the same potential romantic partner.