Author(s): Aya Yadlin-Segal
Year of publication: 2017
Keywords: Iranian identity, Social media, Transnational dialogue, Cultural misconceptions, Identity construction
Methodology/Sample: Content analysis/160 tweets
Reference: Yadlin-Segal, A. (2017). Constructing national identity online: The case study of# IranJeans on Twitter. International Journal of Communication, 11, 24. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/5780
Abstract
This article explores social media users’ circulation of a Twitter hashtag #IranJeans as it reflects a complex transnational dialogue about Iranian identity markers in a globalized mediascape. By conducting a thematic analysis of 140 tweets and photos shared under #IranJeans, this study draws attention to the ways in which social media provide users a unique space to address global political discourse, reconstruct their identities, and refute cultural misconceptions on a transnational level. The study presents this transcultural dialogue as an “affirmative opposition,” focusing on identity construction processes that simultaneously critique and rearticulate existing cultural binaries. This, in turn, expands the discussion of identity construction from older generations of mass media to new, online, media platforms.
> Summary
- The paper examines the role of social media, specifically the Twitter hashtag IranJeans, in shaping and reconstructing Iranian national identity within a global context.
- It highlights how users utilize social media to negotiate their identities, challenge cultural misconceptions, and engage in transnational political discourse.
- The study employs thematic analysis of tweets and images, revealing the complexities of identity construction and the agency of individuals in a postcolonial age.
- It emphasizes the significance of new media platforms in facilitating discussions about hybrid identities and cultural binaries.
> Problem statement
- The paper explores the complexities of Iranian identity in a globalized context through the hashtag #IranJeans.
- It critiques Netanyahu’s portrayal of Iranian identity, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding.
- Users engage in transnational dialogue, challenging cultural misconceptions and colonialist binaries.
- The study highlights the duality of affirming and opposing cultural identities within social media discourse.
- It addresses the intersection of Western identity markers and Iranian cultural expressions.
> Methods used
- The paper employs an interpretive thematic analysis to explore identity construction through the #IranJeans hashtag on Twitter.
- Data collection involved a nonrandom yet systematic sampling of tweets and images, as relying solely on Twitter’s API was deemed biased and incomplete.
- An inductive approach was utilized, allowing categories of analysis to emerge from the texts based on recurring patterns.
- Cross-data repetitions were identified and categorized into clusters, leading to the identification of three main categories: character, location, and binary.
> Practical implications
- The paper highlights how social media can reshape discussions on Iranian identity and cultural perceptions globally.
- It emphasizes the role of hashtags like #IranJeans in facilitating transnational dialogues.
- The study critiques existing cultural binaries, encouraging a nuanced understanding of identity.
- Users’ engagement with Western identity markers through jeans illustrates complex identity construction processes.
- The findings suggest that social media platforms can challenge cultural misconceptions and promote diverse narratives.