In many ways, I disagree with Nakamura’s claims that race can be concealed in cyberspace. My reason for this lies in the situatedness of myself in cyberspace, namely the realm of online dating whereby difference is not concealed, but necessarily revealed. It is true then therefore that “cyberspace may break down ethnic and racial difference” but not in the concealing way that Nakamura argues, but in a breaking down of race and ethnicity into diverse and specific categorized units. In the world of Online Dating there are websites dedicated to every race, religion, ethnicity, and culture. Www.avemariasingles.com, for example, for Catholic singles, www.blacksingles.com for black singles, and www.jdate.com for Jewish singles all REVEAL rather than CONCEAL difference. These are just three of the copious amount of targeted online dating websites that exist in cyber space (a more extensive list is placed below). Regardless of the potential for an ambiguous “avatar” the users all reveal their situatedness in marginalized groups by partaking, signing up, and utilizing the functions of these websites. In this we see that race cannot be concealed or hidden, but that in many avenues in cyberspace used as a starting point for developing relationships between races.
In this isn’t it possible that the Internet certainly IS a utopian space where freedom exists? We are free to seek others with the same ethnicity, race or culture as us, but at the same time are free to go on generic non-specific websites such as www.match.com, or www.plentyoffish.com and seek others of a different race or ethnicity than us. Online Dating therefore gives us the FREEDOM from meeting people at crowded bars, uncomfortable coffee shops, and awkward blind dates.
In this I would CERTAINLY argue with Nakamura’s claim that we have created a virtual world without difference because by signing up for a website of the group we best affiliate ourselves with we are DISPLAYING and proud of our differences. If indeed the virtual world was one without difference, every dating website would be www.match.com, a generic melting pot of cultures and races. The following list certainly does not represent a melting pot of cultures, but reveals the differences within all cyber users.
www.christianmingle.com, www.gay.com (For the LBGT community), www.interracialsingles.com, www.meet-an-inmate.com (For those seeking an intimate encounter with an inmate), www.1stinternational.com (Men seeking European Women), www.mylatinlady.com (For the Latin community), www.catholicsingles.com, www.equestriansingles.com (Those who love horses), www.largeandlovely.com (Seeking or ARE a fuller figures woman), www.countrysingles.com (Yee Haw), www.greensingles.com (vegetarians), www.asianmatrimonial.org (Muslim and Tamil matrimonial)
I agree and I find that many of the examples Everett speaks about in her book, Digital Diasporas, also support the idea of the Internet promoting, rather than concealing, difference. I think that because difference is so prevalent online, we are more inclined to interact with it, resting assured that we will find some common ground or a safe place to be ourselves. At the same time I think in promoting difference and segregation that oftentimes these groups get pushed to the margins. I think there is a fine balance between the positive role of the Internet in offering a place for us to meet our significant others and for us to meet up with those with similar views to create social change.
ReplyDeletePerhaps sometimes it is okay to want to connect over similarities. Not that race is the ideal element to examine for this longing for connection, but perhaps (as we have discussed before) people go to the internet as a place where they can connect with people from their diaspora, community, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think it is hard to fully engage in reasons why people choose to disclose/conceal their race online. It is difficult for me to talk about this because I take my "white privilege" for granted everyday. It is hard for me to step back and take on the role of the other to try to understand reasons why I would be apprehensive about sharing my racial identity. Therefore, while it is easy for me to say revealing my race online is perfectly acceptable, I don't know if I could say that if I were not white (maybe I could, but maybe not). Either way, I agree with what has been said about Nakamura and Everett, and that overall, it seems marginalized groups can (and often do) use websites "designed" specifically for them in order to create a world of change where everyone feels welcome.
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