For my final paper I'm going to explore the influence of vlogs on identity formation among FTM teenagers (13-19). I will be mainly viewing these vlogs on youtube, where many trans men document their transition and share their experiences. From these individual "channels" many unique online communities have formed, including "collab channels" where a few individuals share space and each share their opinion on a particular topic or question. The question I will address is how vlogging has changed identity formation on FTM teenagers due to the virtual community which they are exposed. This technology is fairly new along with the concept of recording videos of oneself throughout transition to share them with the virtual world. I'm particularly interested in teenagers for this subject because many have not been able to go to therapy, have surgery, or start testosterone. Of course, not every FTM identified individual desires hormones or surgery which is an important factor to consider. Also, there are trans men exploring identity at later points in life past the teenage years. Rather, I'm interested in how the exposure to other transgender men through watching video documentation of their transition shapes identity formation. While the individual watching these videos may not desire hormones, surgery, therapy, etc the information is still being made available through videos. My thesis being that vlogging encourages identity exploration among transgender FTM teenagers.
In Shapiro's Gender Circuits she includes a case study of transgender individuals organizing online. In this case study it is stated that the internet was a crucial space of transgender organizing where personal questions and stories could be shared relatively free from the fear of violence. Shapiro comments that "this practice of sharing life histories is an opportunity for individuals to learn and deploy the discourses-in-practice required to construct authentic transgender identities." I will re-examine the work Shapiro has on identity work being done online with the lens of youtube vlogs as the direct focus. I will also incorporate other sources focusing on transgender youth and community forming and the impact of virtual community on identity.
Some questions I'm going to address and consider in relation to my paper are:
How has vlogging influenced community building in FTM teenagers?
How have virtual communities strengthened the narrative of identity formation among FTM teenagers? (Resources and real life experience surrounding hormones, surgery, documents, job experience, coming out process, passing, etc)
How does vlogging provide resources that are valuable for FTM teenagers? Are watching videos enough? Where does virtual communication end? I'm asking this because one of the vloggers I subscribe to also answers questions people have for him on an alternate website. He also answers e-mails for those who want to discuss topics discreetly. His mother also answers e-mails and made a youtube video with him for parents who have transgender teenagers.
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