"Kings Don't Dress Like That": Analyzing Commenter Responses to Celebrity Gender Transgressions on Instagram

Abstract

This thesis examines cases of masculinities online, specifically the public discourse surrounding celebrities’ perceived gender transgressions. Gender transgression, for the purposes of this project, refers to the departure from normative gender presentation, specifically the wearing of normatively feminine clothes, including dresses, skirts, corsets, and high heels. The project conducts a qualitative content analysis of user comments on three celebrities’ transgressions of gender norms on the social media platform Instagram. Several key findings emerged from this analysis: First, gender transgressions remain a highly divisive topic on social media. Second, user comments established boundaries along lines of body size, gender expression, sexuality, and religion to delineate between acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. Third, negative comments worked to externalize the factors contributing to gender transgression away from the individual and towards the work of nefarious forces and omniscient third parties. Lastly, users discussed the possible development of a new form of masculinity popularized by celebrities—one marked by softness, femininity, and social awareness.