4.3. Gender identity
Results suggest that overall, gender role constructions on MySpace seem to correspond to gender role constructions in
mainstream U.S. culture: females as affiliative and attractive, males as strong and powerful. While new contexts may obviate the
need for roles divided along traditional gender lines, previous scripts for behavior may still be utilized in the creation of new
norms. MySpace users do not arrive at their computers devoid of previous social norm knowledge and gendered notions may
provide a foundation for what to expect in this new medium. Further, the MySpace online context does not appear to be completely
removed from users' offline lives, but rather represents an extension or elaboration of offline interactions, such that social realities
and roles translate into this online context (see also Steinfield, Ellison, & Lampe, 2008-this issue, as well as Subrahmanyam et al.,
2008-this issue). As one participant in our study articulated, “It's not something where it's like, ok this is a dreamworld”. This study
suggests that social norms are not completely reinvented online; rather, offline gender scripts and roles guide expectations for
appropriate behavior online.