Leah Dajches
Biographic Data
| ID | 1263533 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Leah Dajches |
| GIVEN NAMES | Leah |
| FAMILY NAME | Dajches |
| SIGNATURE | DAJCHES L |
| AFFILIATIONS | New Mexico State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6741-9939 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 16 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 23 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs present
Sexuality development is a lifelong process, and a critical component within this is one’s sexual self-concept. Such development is particularly challenging and prolonged for LGBTQ+ individuals who frequently experience social repercussions for their non-heterosexual identities. Yet, prior research finds that, broadly, fandom engagement and communities are promising avenues for LGBTQ+ fans’ healthy development. Using a sample of LGBTQ+ Harry Pott…
“Don't blame me”
Identifying profiles of US tween and teen media users
For tweens/teens in the United States, media represents a central element of their lives. However, researchers know very little about the profiles of media users in these age groups, considering their engagement in media activities. To address this, the present study employed a latent profile analysis examining the frequency of engagement for seven media activities from both the 2019 and 2021 versions of the Common Sense Census, which use nationa…
“I made you look”… and comment
“It’s Queer Cotton Candy. It’s Wholesome Gay Teenage Angst
Across the world, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face political and physical attacks. However, research suggests that consuming LGBTQ-specific media has positive identity-related and well-being effects for LGBTQ+ audiences. Using a mixed-methods approach, the present study explored the utility of the Netflix television series, Heartstopper, on wishful reprocessing and identity-related outcomes among LGBTQ+ adult fans (N = 170; 18–40 years old,…
Gothic Pride
The Dependency-Resentment Hypothesis of Men’s Problematic Pornography Use and Hostile Attitudes Toward Women
Harry Potter and the Self-Concept Clarity
The Harry Potter media franchise has recently come under fire because of author J. K. Rowling's transphobic commentary. LGBTQ+ fans have been particularly affected by Rowling's bigotry. To reconcile the dissonance surrounding a once beloved childhood text and the author's transphobic statements, LGBTQ+ fans likely engage in subversive fan behaviors (i.e. queer readings) to reclaim the wizarding world as their own. In the present study, we wanted …
Queer on TV
The Sexual Landscape of Youth
The present study examined the role of sexting in adolescents’ peer environment and romantic relationships with attention to gender patterns. Thirty adolescent girls and boys (ages 16 or 17) of varying racial/ethnic background residing in Los Angeles or Phoenix participated in in-depth interviews about their experiences and attitudes toward sexting. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. In total, we identified 5 main themes an…
From the Margins to the Mainstream
Scholars posit that media texts are polysemic (i.e., open to multiple interpretations) with popular media representing a social institution within Western cultures that spreads dominant societal values, norms, and expectations. Due to their marginalized position within society, sexual minority individuals (i.e., LGBQ+) are frequently underrepresented by mainstream media messages. One way in which marginalized individuals can challenge the dominan…
Looking to the stars
People obtain social information from the media - particularly when they lack real-world experience. This occurs most prominently among younger viewers who seek to learn about sexual and romantic interactions and relationships. This is due both to their lack of first-hand experience in these types of situations as well as the developmental stage they are experiencing (i.e., intimacy vs. isolation; Erikson, 1968). In light of this, we proposed a c…
The costs of sexualization
Is Sexual Consent Sexy
Although depictions of sexual consent are rare in the media, such portrayals have the potential to instruct young people on the procedural details of sexual consent. Taking an entertainment-education (E-E) perspective, we examined the effects of a televised depiction of sexual consent that contained verbal sexual consent, versus a televised depiction that only included nonverbal sexual consent, versus a no-exposure control group to test for chang…
Instagram influences
Engagement with incivility in tweets from and directed at local elected officials
Although social media have created novel opportunities for the public and local elected officials representing city or state governments to interact, concerns have been raised about the tenor of their discourse. We used machine learning in this project to identify the presence of incivility in tweets (N = 38,218) made by and directed at local officials representing a metropolitan area over an 18-month period and examine its implications. Compared…
Finding the self through others
The primary developmental task of adolescence (12–18 years old) is identity development. During this time, adolescents individuate from their parents and may instead use media models for social guidance. Previous research has analyzed the impact of media figures on adolescents’ socialization but few have explored the influence of non-fiction media figures on their self-concept. As such, the present study examined of the role of fanship and identi…
Transferable Resilience Practices
This study uses the communication theory of resilience as a sensitizing framework to explore how U.S. military spouses transferred resilience practices acquired during military deployment to early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 27 in-depth interviews with U.S. military spouses showed that the military experience shaped participants’ appraisal of the pandemic and helped them to discursively enact resilience through previously developed…
Queer folklore
The present study fills a gap in the media entertainment and fan studies literatures with an exploration of media fandom in relation to fans’ sexual identity acceptance. Using a sample of Taylor Swift fans who identify as women (N = 771), we address how fans’ motivations, practices, and oppositional readings of Taylor Swift’s 2020 album, folklore, are related to their sexual identity development as well as their acceptance of fluidity in others’ …
Hetero-(sex)pectations
Not Another Teen Show
Television narratives present conflicting information regarding heterosexual, adolescent sexuality. In response to this, the present study examined the associations between adolescent girls’ (N = 419, Mage = 16.37, SD = 1.36) sexually oriented television viewing and their expectations in romantic and sexual relationships in two related domains. Results showed that sexually oriented teen television viewing was positively associated with adolescent…
The super man
The Pornography “How-To” Script
Queer folklore
The present study fills a gap in the media entertainment and fan studies literatures with an exploration of media fandom in relation to fans’ sexual identity acceptance. Using a sample of Taylor Swift fans who identify as women (N = 771), we address how fans’ motivations, practices, and oppositional readings of Taylor Swift’s 2020 album, folklore, are related to their sexual identity development as well as their acceptance of fluidity in others’ …
From the Margins to the Mainstream
Scholars posit that media texts are polysemic (i.e., open to multiple interpretations) with popular media representing a social institution within Western cultures that spreads dominant societal values, norms, and expectations. Due to their marginalized position within society, sexual minority individuals (i.e., LGBQ+) are frequently underrepresented by mainstream media messages. One way in which marginalized individuals can challenge the dominan…
Engagement with incivility in tweets from and directed at local elected officials
Although social media have created novel opportunities for the public and local elected officials representing city or state governments to interact, concerns have been raised about the tenor of their discourse. We used machine learning in this project to identify the presence of incivility in tweets (N = 38,218) made by and directed at local officials representing a metropolitan area over an 18-month period and examine its implications. Compared…
The Pornography “How-To” Script
Harry Potter and the Self-Concept Clarity
The Harry Potter media franchise has recently come under fire because of author J. K. Rowling's transphobic commentary. LGBTQ+ fans have been particularly affected by Rowling's bigotry. To reconcile the dissonance surrounding a once beloved childhood text and the author's transphobic statements, LGBTQ+ fans likely engage in subversive fan behaviors (i.e. queer readings) to reclaim the wizarding world as their own. In the present study, we wanted …
Transferable Resilience Practices
This study uses the communication theory of resilience as a sensitizing framework to explore how U.S. military spouses transferred resilience practices acquired during military deployment to early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 27 in-depth interviews with U.S. military spouses showed that the military experience shaped participants’ appraisal of the pandemic and helped them to discursively enact resilience through previously developed…
The super man
The Pornography “How-To” Script
Hetero-(sex)pectations
Not Another Teen Show
Television narratives present conflicting information regarding heterosexual, adolescent sexuality. In response to this, the present study examined the associations between adolescent girls’ (N = 419, Mage = 16.37, SD = 1.36) sexually oriented television viewing and their expectations in romantic and sexual relationships in two related domains. Results showed that sexually oriented teen television viewing was positively associated with adolescent…
The super man
Finding the self through others
The primary developmental task of adolescence (12–18 years old) is identity development. During this time, adolescents individuate from their parents and may instead use media models for social guidance. Previous research has analyzed the impact of media figures on adolescents’ socialization but few have explored the influence of non-fiction media figures on their self-concept. As such, the present study examined of the role of fanship and identi…
Transferable Resilience Practices
This study uses the communication theory of resilience as a sensitizing framework to explore how U.S. military spouses transferred resilience practices acquired during military deployment to early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 27 in-depth interviews with U.S. military spouses showed that the military experience shaped participants’ appraisal of the pandemic and helped them to discursively enact resilience through previously developed…
Queer folklore
The present study fills a gap in the media entertainment and fan studies literatures with an exploration of media fandom in relation to fans’ sexual identity acceptance. Using a sample of Taylor Swift fans who identify as women (N = 771), we address how fans’ motivations, practices, and oppositional readings of Taylor Swift’s 2020 album, folklore, are related to their sexual identity development as well as their acceptance of fluidity in others’ …
Looking to the stars
People obtain social information from the media - particularly when they lack real-world experience. This occurs most prominently among younger viewers who seek to learn about sexual and romantic interactions and relationships. This is due both to their lack of first-hand experience in these types of situations as well as the developmental stage they are experiencing (i.e., intimacy vs. isolation; Erikson, 1968). In light of this, we proposed a c…
The costs of sexualization
Is Sexual Consent Sexy
Although depictions of sexual consent are rare in the media, such portrayals have the potential to instruct young people on the procedural details of sexual consent. Taking an entertainment-education (E-E) perspective, we examined the effects of a televised depiction of sexual consent that contained verbal sexual consent, versus a televised depiction that only included nonverbal sexual consent, versus a no-exposure control group to test for chang…
Instagram influences
Engagement with incivility in tweets from and directed at local elected officials
Although social media have created novel opportunities for the public and local elected officials representing city or state governments to interact, concerns have been raised about the tenor of their discourse. We used machine learning in this project to identify the presence of incivility in tweets (N = 38,218) made by and directed at local officials representing a metropolitan area over an 18-month period and examine its implications. Compared…
Queer on TV
The Sexual Landscape of Youth
The present study examined the role of sexting in adolescents’ peer environment and romantic relationships with attention to gender patterns. Thirty adolescent girls and boys (ages 16 or 17) of varying racial/ethnic background residing in Los Angeles or Phoenix participated in in-depth interviews about their experiences and attitudes toward sexting. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. In total, we identified 5 main themes an…
From the Margins to the Mainstream
Scholars posit that media texts are polysemic (i.e., open to multiple interpretations) with popular media representing a social institution within Western cultures that spreads dominant societal values, norms, and expectations. Due to their marginalized position within society, sexual minority individuals (i.e., LGBQ+) are frequently underrepresented by mainstream media messages. One way in which marginalized individuals can challenge the dominan…
“I made you look”… and comment
“It’s Queer Cotton Candy. It’s Wholesome Gay Teenage Angst
Across the world, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face political and physical attacks. However, research suggests that consuming LGBTQ-specific media has positive identity-related and well-being effects for LGBTQ+ audiences. Using a mixed-methods approach, the present study explored the utility of the Netflix television series, Heartstopper, on wishful reprocessing and identity-related outcomes among LGBTQ+ adult fans (N = 170; 18–40 years old,…
Gothic Pride
The Dependency-Resentment Hypothesis of Men’s Problematic Pornography Use and Hostile Attitudes Toward Women
Harry Potter and the Self-Concept Clarity
The Harry Potter media franchise has recently come under fire because of author J. K. Rowling's transphobic commentary. LGBTQ+ fans have been particularly affected by Rowling's bigotry. To reconcile the dissonance surrounding a once beloved childhood text and the author's transphobic statements, LGBTQ+ fans likely engage in subversive fan behaviors (i.e. queer readings) to reclaim the wizarding world as their own. In the present study, we wanted …
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs present
Sexuality development is a lifelong process, and a critical component within this is one’s sexual self-concept. Such development is particularly challenging and prolonged for LGBTQ+ individuals who frequently experience social repercussions for their non-heterosexual identities. Yet, prior research finds that, broadly, fandom engagement and communities are promising avenues for LGBTQ+ fans’ healthy development. Using a sample of LGBTQ+ Harry Pott…
“Don't blame me”
Identifying profiles of US tween and teen media users
For tweens/teens in the United States, media represents a central element of their lives. However, researchers know very little about the profiles of media users in these age groups, considering their engagement in media activities. To address this, the present study employed a latent profile analysis examining the frequency of engagement for seven media activities from both the 2019 and 2021 versions of the Common Sense Census, which use nationa…
Psychology (16 works) · Social Psychology (12 works) · Gender, Feminism, and Media (11 works) · Sociology (11 works) · Developmental psychology (8 works) · Gender Studies (7 works) · Media Influence and Health (7 works) · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology (7 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Queer (6 works)