Gay Men �& Feminist Women: Networks of Collaboration & Competition

“WHY IS IT PRESUPPOSED THAT THE MALE FEMINIST �IS A HETEROSEXUAL MAN?” �

– CRAIG OWENS, “OUTLAWS: GAY MEN IN FEMINISM”

D. Travers Scott, Sarah Arbogast ICA2012 - Phoenix, AZ

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Theory!• Foucault:!

• Discursive constitution of identities!• Modern power!• Multiple competing discourses!

• Castells:!• Network as primary model of social organization!• Human and other actors!• Nodes and power switching!

• Collaboration / competition (not enemies / allies)!

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Components!•  Historiographic discourse analysis!

•  Case study: South Carolina!

• Original historiography!

• Focus groups!

•  Network analyses:!

• Social media data mining!

• Nodes and network mapping!

•  Follow-up interviews + personal network mapping!

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“Received view”!•  Examination of 60+ historiographic works:!

• No extended treatment of two groups together!

• Almost every work at least mentions the other group once, if briefly:!

• Other group as parallel example!

• Theoretical citations!

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“Received view”!•  Typically:!

• Individuals (e.g., Emma Goldman, Judith Butler)!

• Events (“Liberation moment,” AIDS)!

•  Concerns:!

• Reduction to lesbian!

• Feminism as a problem for LGBT movement!

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S. Carolina: Archives!•  Supports yet expands received view:!

• Homophobia in ERA campaign!

• SC Pride – N.O.W. networking!

• Different “liberation” timeline!

• Central figure is heterosexual woman!

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S. Carolina: Focus Groups!•  Gay male / feminist female groups; 2 locations !

•  Supports yet complicates received view:!

• Homophobia and sexism!

• Postfeminism!

• The GFB!

• Common obstacle: femininity!

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Networking!•  Popular discourse v.“the received view”?!•  Social media data mining: !

• Salesforce Radian6 sentiment analyses:!

• Minimal linkages!

• When linked, typically negative!

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Nodes & Switching "!•  Multimodal search of blogosphere for each

group’s nodes:!• High powered influencer searches!

• Content!• Descriptive meta!

•  Spread of content!• Social networking!• Supported by focus group!

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Networking: “Switchers”!•  Inter-actor

analysis cluster map!

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Networking: “Switchers”!•  Colink

analysis cluster map!

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Networking: “Switchers”!•  Support from other research!

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Next Steps!Connection exists and collaboration is flux!Network analysis!In-depth follow-up interviews (power switchers)!Focus group participants!Online nodes!

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