The visibility of gender diversity in social networks. The case of Spanish trans influencers in TikTok

Abstract

The percentage of the population that uses social networks on a daily basis is increasing, its rapid expansion and acceptance, especially among the younger audience, has made them become a new way to socialize, create friendships, expose the daily life of many people, etc.

Gender identity is a booming issue in social networks, but this exposure has advantages and disadvantages, especially when the person who is exposed in these social networks belongs to a group that already in the offline world suffers discrimination for such membership.

The trans community is one of the groups that are part of the LGBTTTQI+.

These groups are beginning to use social networks to show their history, the difficulties in their transition, the emotions, and feelings they experience etc.

In short, they tell their experiences and also denounce the situations of rejection, violence and/or harassment they may suffer both in the offline and online world.

This media exposure puts in their way people who support them, who feel identified, who take them as icons of the fight against transphobia, etc. but it also shows the dark side of society in which other users use their publications against them to show disrespect, insults, threats, etc.

Therefore, the question is, can social networks serve to fight rejection and help people discover and construct their gender?