”ÄR INTE DET HÄR PEAK GIRLHOOD?”. Dejtingappens betydelse för unga kvinnors identitet och sociala samhörighet

Abstract

This anthropological study examines the social significance of dating apps in the lives of young adult women. The aim is to generate a deeper understanding of young women’s experiences of online dating practices and the norms, values and social expectations that are associated with them. The study explores the percieved purpose of dating apps, the role they play in social relationships and how they are used to create identity and a sense of community. The study was conducted through ethnographic fieldwork consisting of participant observation, semi- structured individual and group interviews as well as shadowing. Results show that dating apps hold significant social importance in young adult female friendships, both as a common interest and as a bonding ritual. Young women often doubt their own ability to secure a socially beneficial match, and therefore rely heavily on the support of their friends to help guide their decision making. It also found that for young women, the use of dating apps revolve less around finding a romantic partner and more about connecting with their peers and creating a sense of community. To explain this, the data is analyzed through the concept of girlhood, gender as a performative practice and kinship in the form of relatedness. The thesis is written in Swedish.