Language Codes, Topic Preferences and Identity Construction: The Case of Gendered Language on Social Media

This study on exploring the use of gendered language on social media is a qualitative-quantitative analysis of the male and female differences in the language codes, topic preferences, and identity construction. In-depth understanding of the gendered use of language in Facebook was investigated with a purposive sampling of 90 status updates taken from the posts of respondents who are enrolled in one of the premier public high schools in Cagayan Valley. Anchored on Thematic Analysis by Braun and Clarke (2006), the language codes, topic preferences and gender-based identity construction were explored. Findings reveal that both male and female who are active users of Facebook are multilingual whenever they go online. The discussion on the variety of topics speaks of the diversity of the interest of those involved in the communication platform. The interactivity that Facebook provides makes it a medium through which people define themselves by sharing what is going on in their lives or how they are feeling. This makes Facebook a forum where extension of a person’s real-life identity radiates. Moreover, the use of language by male and female are influenced by their social network in Facebook. Through Facebook status updates, male and female do not only express their emotions but also share details about their daily life activities as to what they were doing or what was going on in their lives at that moment. Thus, trainings and seminars among students and teachers on upholding preservation of culture and language must be part of the curriculum to promote youth empowerment, gender fair language and awareness of cyber-bullying, are hereby recommended to develop communicative competence leading to deeper understanding of one another.