What does this research mean for the field?

In Nigerian online dating, users construct gendered identities where men typically emphasize provision and leadership, women emphasize care and modesty, and religion serves as gendered moral capital to make digital intimacy culturally intelligible. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To investigate how Nigerian online dating users construct gendered identities and negotiate norms of masculinity and femininity through profile text, photos, and partner preferences.

September 10, 2026Journal of Gender Studies

Gendered self-presentation in Nigerian online dating: masculinity, femininity and respectability

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Authors

AMAbosede Grace Mayadenu FYFrancis Yede

Discussion

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Overview

Qualitative discourse analysis uncovers distinct norms of masculinity and respectable femininity in Nigerian online dating profiles, highlighting how cultural values shape digital courtship.

Key Points

To investigate how Nigerian online dating users construct gendered identities and negotiate norms of masculinity and femininity through profile text, photos, and partner preferences.
Conducted a qualitative feminist critical discourse analysis informed by gender performativity, hegemonic masculinity, and self-presentation theory.
Analyzed a balanced purposive corpus of 40 publicly visible Nigerian online dating profiles, including descriptions, photographs, and partner-preference criteria.
Men predominantly framed masculinity through economic provision, purpose, leadership, spiritual commitment, and readiness for marriage.
Women established desirability through emotional warmth, physical attractiveness, modesty, and religious respectability to counterbalance potential digital stigma.
Hybrid gender presentations also appeared across profiles, including men emphasizing domestic competence and care alongside women highlighting career ambition and physical confidence.

Cite This Study

Mayadenu et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa27a5658559d80afc72f97 https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2026.2726880

View Full Paper

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September 10, 2026Journal of Gender Studies

Gendered self-presentation in Nigerian online dating: masculinity, femininity and respectability

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

AMAbosede Grace Mayadenu FYFrancis Yede

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Qualitative discourse analysis uncovers distinct norms of masculinity and respectable femininity in Nigerian online dating profiles, highlighting how cultural values shape digital courtship.

Key Points

To investigate how Nigerian online dating users construct gendered identities and negotiate norms of masculinity and femininity through profile text, photos, and partner preferences.
Conducted a qualitative feminist critical discourse analysis informed by gender performativity, hegemonic masculinity, and self-presentation theory.
Analyzed a balanced purposive corpus of 40 publicly visible Nigerian online dating profiles, including descriptions, photographs, and partner-preference criteria.
Men predominantly framed masculinity through economic provision, purpose, leadership, spiritual commitment, and readiness for marriage.
Women established desirability through emotional warmth, physical attractiveness, modesty, and religious respectability to counterbalance potential digital stigma.
Hybrid gender presentations also appeared across profiles, including men emphasizing domestic competence and care alongside women highlighting career ambition and physical confidence.

Cite This Study

Mayadenu et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa27a5658559d80afc72f97 https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2026.2726880

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark