Social Media Content Creators living with Alopecia on Instagram
(2024) MKVM13 20241Media and Communication Studies
Department of Communication and Media
- Abstract
- This thesis investigates the experiences of social media content creators living with Alopecia, focusing on their self-advocacy practices within Instagram. Alopecia, a condition characterized by hair loss, presents itself as a physicality of stigma (Goffmann 1963) and impacts individuals, shaping their self-perception and interactions with society. Against the backdrop of increasing digitalization and the rise of social media platforms, individuals with Alopecia have leveraged online spaces to share their stories, advocate for awareness, and foster community support. However, despite the growing visibility of Alopecia, there is a gap in the previous research examining the lived experiences of content creators and, by extension, women with... (More)
- This thesis investigates the experiences of social media content creators living with Alopecia, focusing on their self-advocacy practices within Instagram. Alopecia, a condition characterized by hair loss, presents itself as a physicality of stigma (Goffmann 1963) and impacts individuals, shaping their self-perception and interactions with society. Against the backdrop of increasing digitalization and the rise of social media platforms, individuals with Alopecia have leveraged online spaces to share their stories, advocate for awareness, and foster community support. However, despite the growing visibility of Alopecia, there is a gap in the previous research examining the lived experiences of content creators and, by extension, women with hair loss.
Using a phenomenological approach to qualitative research, this study explores multifaceted dimensions of the social media content creation process among individuals with Alopecia. The study examines participants' illness identity and narrative through production interviews and thematic analysis to uncover the intricate intersection of identity, narrative construction, representation, and mobilization within digital environments. The study illuminates how social media content creators live with Alopecia and the transformative potential of digital platforms in fostering societal and attitude change.
The findings reveal the complex interplay between the social media content creator living with Alopecia's personal identity, personal narrative, societal perception, and how they negotiated in the digital space. Moreover, the study forms a typology of six different types of social media content creators living with Alopecia - Personal Journey Advocate, Educational Advocate, Activist Advocate, Beauty and Fashion Influencer, Artist and Storyteller, and Product Reviewer. By amplifying the voices and experiences of social media content creators with Alopecia, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the intersection of digital media, Sociology of health and illness through health advocacy and activism, and visual culture. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9151519
- author
- Böbs, Anna Milena LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- Content Creators living with Alopecia on Instagram - A typology
- course
- MKVM13 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Alopecia, Social Media Content Creators on Instagram, Health advocacy and activism, Stigma, Mobilisation of Vulnerability and Resistance
- language
- English
- id
- 9151519
- date added to LUP
- 2024-06-12 08:29:43
- date last changed
- 2024-06-12 08:29:43
@misc{9151519,
abstract = {{This thesis investigates the experiences of social media content creators living with Alopecia, focusing on their self-advocacy practices within Instagram. Alopecia, a condition characterized by hair loss, presents itself as a physicality of stigma (Goffmann 1963) and impacts individuals, shaping their self-perception and interactions with society. Against the backdrop of increasing digitalization and the rise of social media platforms, individuals with Alopecia have leveraged online spaces to share their stories, advocate for awareness, and foster community support. However, despite the growing visibility of Alopecia, there is a gap in the previous research examining the lived experiences of content creators and, by extension, women with hair loss.
Using a phenomenological approach to qualitative research, this study explores multifaceted dimensions of the social media content creation process among individuals with Alopecia. The study examines participants' illness identity and narrative through production interviews and thematic analysis to uncover the intricate intersection of identity, narrative construction, representation, and mobilization within digital environments. The study illuminates how social media content creators live with Alopecia and the transformative potential of digital platforms in fostering societal and attitude change.
The findings reveal the complex interplay between the social media content creator living with Alopecia's personal identity, personal narrative, societal perception, and how they negotiated in the digital space. Moreover, the study forms a typology of six different types of social media content creators living with Alopecia - Personal Journey Advocate, Educational Advocate, Activist Advocate, Beauty and Fashion Influencer, Artist and Storyteller, and Product Reviewer. By amplifying the voices and experiences of social media content creators with Alopecia, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the intersection of digital media, Sociology of health and illness through health advocacy and activism, and visual culture.}},
author = {{Böbs, Anna Milena}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Social Media Content Creators living with Alopecia on Instagram}},
year = {{2024}},
}