Title
All I get is an emoji : dating on lesbian mobile phone app Butterfly
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Media, Culture & Society
Publication Date
9-1-2017
Volume
39
Issue
6
First Page
816
Last Page
832
Publisher
Sage Publications Ltd.
Keywords
Chinese sexuality, dating app, Hong Kong, intimacy, lesbian, love, online dating, romance
Abstract
Unlike mobile apps for gay men, lesbian dating apps have been slow to catch on as a habitual space to look for friends and lovers. This study adopted a qualitative approach to investigate the social expectations and romantic longings of Chinese lesbians and bisexual women aged 35 and above in establishing same-sex relationships using mobile media. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 Chinese lesbians and bisexual women, and participant observation was carried out on the Hong Kong-based lesbian social networking site Butterfly. The aim of the study was to explore the social meanings of intimacy created, negotiated and changed among Chinese lesbians and bisexual women. I argue that although social media presents ample opportunities for love and intimacy, the prevailing conservative values and cultural norms surrounding dating and relationships in Hong Kong are often reinforced and played out in their choice of romantic engagement.
DOI
10.1177/0163443717693680
Print ISSN
01634437
E-ISSN
14603675
Publisher Statement
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017.
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Tang, D. T.-S. (2017). All I get is an emoji: Dating on lesbian mobile phone app Butterfly. Media, Culture & Society, 39(6), 816-832. doi: 10.1177/0163443717693680
