ABSTRACT
This chapter articulates two ideas or ways of being that emerged through the research in relation to how people portrayed themselves on the app. Whilst men sought to portray themselves as ‘blokes’: tanned, muscular, masculine, etc. and the term ‘Aussie Bloke’ was consistently circulated. This term was racially othering, in addition, the majority of make participants consistently felt like they were doing something wrong. Women on the other hand defined themselves against a cultural ideal – the notion of ‘high maintenance’ which both referred to physical and behavioural characteristics. The author examines how this notion of ‘high maintenance’ also made women feel like they had to make themselves smaller, or curtail certain behaviours to appease men. Finally, the author examines whether users leant on known cultural ideals in relation to gender presentation as a result of COVID-19 uncertainty.
