Multivocality and Sexual Identity of a “Nation” in Zimbabwe
Exploring Twitter Discourse on Queer Sexualities
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12466142 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Clayton Moyo (University of the Witwatersrand), Mthokozisi Phathisani Ndhlovu (0000-0001-8726-3847, University of Johannesburg, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 464-477 |
| Publication date | 2023-08-17 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sexuality & Culture (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1095-5143 • E-ISSN: 1936-4822 |
| Publisher | Springer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12119-023-10126-7 |
| OpenAlex | W4385954200 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 26 |
In Zimbabwe, like in most African countries, sexuality is strongly tied with national identities. Previous studies show that queer sexualities are associated with Western values. While this narrative is contested, it has, nevertheless, been promoted by the mainstream media. However, this article focuses on social media, Twitter to be specific, to examine how users discuss sexuality and national identities. The focus is on social media platforms as they enable users to bypass traditional gatekeepers and use reason and emotions to argue about different issues. The article uses the case studies of a Zimbabwean school teacher, Neal Hovelmeier, and a South African gay celebrity, Somizi Mhlongo, who became subjects of Twitter discussions in Zimbabwe because of their homosexual orientation. The article established that Twitter reflects a wide range of reactions and formulations of queerness within what is imagined to be normative identities in Zimbabwe. It further noted that queer struggles are tied to contemporary political and social struggles and Twitter users frame their responses in ways that show these intersections
Aesthetics · Art · Human sexuality · Identity (music · Lesbian · Literature · Mainstream · Media studies · Narrative · Normative · Political science · Politics · Queer · Sexual identity · Sexual orientation · Social media · Sociology · Transgender · African Sexualities and LGBTQ+ Issues · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Gender Studies · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
Violence and Trolling on Social Media
Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method
Out of DSM
The global emergence of gay and lesbian politics
The democratic deficit in reporting political crises
Dismantling reified African culture through localised homosexualities in Uganda
Social media in government
Queer Prolepsis and the Sexual Commons
Digital inequalities and why they matter
Une Afrique homophobe
The Lies We Have Been Told
Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence
Writing the World from an African Metropolis
Towards an Ethical Framework for Publishing Twitter Data in Social Research
Incompleteness
Homophobic Africa? Toward A More Nuanced View
Frontiers and pioneers in (the study of) queer experiences in Africa Introduction
Confronting the Politics of Nonconforming Sexualities in Africa
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |