Klose, Amy (2023) Navigating Agency and Adversity: Identity Exploration of Female-Identifying Students on Dating Apps. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Identity development is a central task of emerging adulthood. As dating apps are becoming increasingly important tools for emerging adults to find potential partners, this thesis examines in what ways dating apps may be used to explore one’s identity. Due to the unique and often negative experiences women have on dating apps, the present study focuses specifically on the identity exploration of individuals who identify as female. This thesis employs qualitative research methods in which participants were asked open-ended questions, the answers of which were inductively coded using thematic analysis and organized according to overarching themes. The sample consisted of 28 female-identifying first-year students with varied nationalities and sexual orientations, all studying at a Dutch university. Overall, four themes were found surrounding the topics of (1) exploration of preferences and attitudes regarding relationships, (2) gaining confidence in the online setting, (3) learning to set boundaries, and (4) barriers to identity exploration. Results showed that, while dating apps offer various opportunities for the identity exploration of female-identified individuals, they are held back by the reinforcement of patriarchal structures on dating apps. As this study was limited to one specific setting, future research may focus on examining these matters in different cultural contexts.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Gmelin, J.H. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jul 2023 14:36 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Jul 2023 14:36 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/2589 |
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