Winter Speaker Series: Hashtags and Homemaking: Exploring Tradwife Identities on TikTok - Feb. 25

[Arts Communications]

Calling all the sociologically curious!
Thank you to everyone who attended the first lecture of the Sociology and Legal Studies Winter Speaker Series. The second lecture with Dr. Mendes exploring TikTok tradwives is almost here on Wednesday, Feb 25th.

  *   30–40-minute public lecture w/ 20–30-minute Q&A
  *   No registration & FREE for anyone to attend
  *
Light refreshments (and excellent company)

Hashtags and Homemaking: Exploring Tradwife Identities on TikTok
Dr. Kaitlynn Mendes
Wednesday, Feb. 25th | 11:50 am – 12:50 PM | Location: QNC 1506

Abstract: In recent years, there has been an explosion of interest in “tradwives,” or “traditional wives.” Tradwives’ popularity has been most observed on TikTok, a platform that facilitates identity-laden performances. Far from a harmless TikTok trend, pundits have decried tradwives as mainstreaming far-right and neo-fascist political ideologies that would limit women’s participation in the public sphere.
However, little empirical research has sought to tease out what exactly is underlying the tradwife phenomenon. In our work, we explored 262 TikTok videos using #tradwife. We find that tradwives elide any singular conceptualization. Tradwives contain a varied set of aesthetics and narratives, from “homestead wives” who embrace an “off-the-grid” lifestyle of self-sufficiency, to “alt-wives,” who sport non-traditional body modifications, like tattoos and piercings, but reject the promises of modern feminism. This work signals that we ought to think of tradwives as a diverse group with heterogeneous methods and reasons for contesting contemporary gender roles.

Bio: Kaitlynn Mendes is a sociologist whose work sits at the intersection of media, education, and politics. Her research and teaching adopt an intersectional feminist perspective to better understand and combat gender inequalities and their relationship with media technologies. Using a mixed methods approach, she explores how digital technologies pave the way for new forms of online abuse, while simultaneously being used to challenge sexism, sexual violence, rape culture, and harassment in on and offline spaces. Insights from her research have been used to inform policies, practices, and public understanding on contemporary gender inequalities. Kaitlynn is also the Principle Investigator on 5-year SSHRC project DIY: Digital Safety<http://www.diydigitalsafety.ca/> and is Director of the Gender, Equity, Media, and Society (GEMS) Research Lab.<https://www.gemslab.ca/>

Get ready for an interesting opportunity to connect with your peers, develop your sociological imagination, and enjoy the free snacks.
Can’t make it on the 25th? No worries. You still catch the final presentation from the Winter Speaker Series with Dr. Broll, Mar. 11th at 1:30 PM.
We can’t wait to see you there!

Warm regards,

The Sociology and Legal Studies Social Committee

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