Racial Exclusion in the Online World

Rebecca J. West and Bhoomi K. Thakore
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Rebecca J. West: Department of Sociology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Rd., Coffey Hall 4th floor, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
Bhoomi K. Thakore: Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 420 E. Superior St., Rubloff 12, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

Future Internet, 2013, vol. 5, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: As the internet has become an integral part of everyday life, it is understood that patterns of racial stereotyping and discrimination found in the offline world are often reproduced online. In our paper, we examine two exclusionary practices in an online environment for adult toy collectors: First, the exclusion of non-white individuals who are expected to form immediate friendships with other non-white members; and second, the essentializing of racial issues when concerns over the lack of racial diversity in the toys are discussed. This dismissal is often directly connected to non-white members’ decisions to no longer participate, resulting in a new form of segregation within virtual space.

Keywords: racism; whiteness; exclusion; Internet; American Girl; online message boards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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