Duckface/Stoneface: The social semiotics and gendering of selfies among 10 to 13 year old pupils in four Swedish schools

Based on results from and reflections around a recently published qualitative study on the use of social

media, gaming, and imagery communication among 10 and 13 year old students in four schools within

the Stockholm area, this talk examines how these technologies become part of the peer to peer gender

socialization inside and outside of school. Dr. Forsman will present results from focus group interviews

and workshops, and explore how ‘selfies’ and ‘ussies’ are inscribed with stereotypical representations

and essentialist conceptions of gender. At the same time, he considers how ‘selfies’ and ‘ussies’ are

social and communicative practices that also partly undermine the gender stereotypes inflecting the

imagery.

Michael Forsman is an Associate Professor in Media and Communication Studies at Södertörn

University, Stockholm. He has done research on youth and media, popular culture, and Swedish

broadcasting history, and has published numerous books and articles. He is also involved in the Teacher

Education program at Södertörn University and in its intercultural profile. Some of his more recent

research activities have been around media and information literacy (MIL), aesthetic learning processes,

and media in relation to performance art.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Dr. Chloë Brushwood Rose.