Swiping the Norms: Feminist Dating Apps and Indonesian Women’s Dating Scene Realities

This research aims to investigate the dynamics of gender roles by focusing on the standpoint of women users of the feminist dating app Bumble. This app has emerged in Indonesia as one of the most popular platforms to meet potential partners, and it has provided a unique setting to examine how traditional and evolving gender roles manifest in online dating. By first analyzing women users’ behaviors, preferences, and interactions, this study sheds light on how gender roles and cultural norms influence the dating experience in the digital realm. Qualitative interviews were conducted with ten dating app users to gain deeper insights into their experiences, and the results were analyzed using the phenomenology method. This qualitative component explores the subjective perceptions, expectations, and challenges associated with gender roles in the dating app context. The study’s findings illuminate the evolution of dating dynamics in Indonesia and reveal notable shifts in the dating landscape. Challenges such as “ghosting” and “relationshopping” emerge, which underscore the nuanced interplay of agency and hesitancy in the quest for meaningful connections. While Bumble empowers women users, it also highlights the delicate balance between newfound agency, societal expectations, and emotional vulnerabilities. These findings highlight the need for future research to consider diverse gender identities, sexual orientations, demographic ranges, and regional variations. Continual investigation is imperative to monitor the evolving nature of dating apps and their impact on societal norms amidst technological advancements and shifting social contexts.