Date of Award
1-20-2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Anne Figert
Second Advisor
Dana Garbarski
Abstract
The prevalence of sexual misconduct and its consequences for individuals and society remain pressing issues in the United States. While the #MeToo movement has emerged as a prominent response to these challenges, it has faced criticism for emphasizing a singular survivor narrative. Similarly, the study and theorization of sexual violence within sociology have remained limited in scope. This work extends empirical and theoretical perspectives on sexual misconduct by analyzing #MeToo’s utilization in Twitter1 posts from 2017 to 2022, as well as how individuals discuss sexual misconduct in relation to the movement. Additionally, I examine the influence of gender, race, and sexuality on men’s perceptions of and responses to allegations of sexual misconduct. Using a qualitative content analysis of 86 original Twitter posts, multimodal critical discourse analysis (MCDA) of 388 replies, and 20 interviews with men, this study analyzes perceptions in both digital and physical spaces. The findings reveal that Twitter users have used #MeToo to support, challenge, hijack, and promote the #MeToo movement. Two polarized discourses emerge from user responses: “fuck the bad guys” and “don’t be a victim.” Moreover, three styles of men’s engagement with discussions of sexual misconduct are identified: the Accused, the Survivors, and the Dialoguers. These findings carry significant implications. They highlight the persistence of binary thinking surrounding sexual misconduct, acknowledge the 1 The site formally known as Twitter has been rebranded as X. When the data was created and collected, the social media site was known as Twitter. Throughout this dissertation, I will be referring to Twitter and using the term “tweets.” progress made in recognizing sexual violence as a societal issue, and illustrate the ongoing challenges in fully addressing it. Furthermore, the study underscores the need for an intersectional approach to sexual misconduct, particularly regarding how gender and race shape whose perspectives are amplified, who is seen as a victim or perpetrator, perceptions of accusations, and the experiences of those accused. Scholars, anti-violence organizations, and social media platforms seeking to end sexual misconduct must integrate intersectionality into their work.
Recommended Citation
Kinsella, Melissa A., "A “Scary Time” to be a Man? Comparing Men’s Engagement with Anti-Sexual Violence Discourses in the Private and Public Sphere" (2025). Dissertations. 4156.
https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/4156
