The rapid growth in the accessibility and popularity of the internet has contributed to its penetration into all spheres of life, including the most intimate ones. Not only worldwide, but also in Slovenia, the internet is becoming an increasingly popular and established medium for meeting potential partners and friends. The virtual space greatly facilitates getting to know and establishing contacts. This represents a particularly great advantage for deprivileged and stigmatized groups, whose stigmas increase their uncertainty and make it difficult or even impossible to find partners and meet in person.
One such stigmatized group is also gay people. In our thesis, we will therefore deal with the sociological aspects of the phenomenon of internet dating among the gay population in Slovenia. Given the fact that there are very few LGBT gathering places in Slovenia, and homophobia is still quite prevalent, the internet provides a relatively safe environment for gay people to meet other gays. With our qualitative research, we want to find out why and how gays use internet dating sites. Specifically, we are interested in their experiences with meeting people in the virtual space. How do individuals present themselves and what do they pay the most attention to in other people's profiles? What attracts them the most and based on what do they decide with whom to interact? We are also interested in the transition from online to the real world, that is, the importance of meeting and continuing the relationship in person.
|
