Racial Exclusion in the Online World

• Main Authors: Bhoomi K. Thakore, Rebecca J. West
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2013-05-01
• Series: Future Internet
• Subjects: racism; whiteness; exclusion; Internet; American Girl; online message boards
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/5/2/251

As the internet has become an integral part of everyday life, it is understood that patterns of racial stereotyping and discrimination found in the offline world are often reproduced online. In our paper, we examine two exclusionary practices in an online environment for adult toy collectors: First, the exclusion of non-white individuals who are expected to form immediate friendships with other non-white members; and second, the essentializing of racial issues when concerns over the lack of racial diversity in the toys are discussed. This dismissal is often directly connected to non-white members’ decisions to no longer participate, resulting in a new form of segregation within virtual space.