The social media practices and politics of queer Latinas

This dissertation examines how queer Latinas located in the United States engage the social media platforms of Instagram and Twitter to express and theorize their lived experiences. Chapter 1 is the introduction and situates the dissertation in the fields of Anthropology, Latinx studies, and digital studies. It further establishes the methodological framework of the dissertation including, participant recruitment, ethnographic methods, and my approach to semi- structured interviews. Chapter 2 examines how the #NoSaboKid operates as a figure of U.S Latinidad that reveals the interplay between linguistic insecurity and authenticity. It further examines how gendered and heteronormative expectations inform how participants are positioned within Latinidad. Chapter 3 follows a singular participant as she narrates and theorizes her own lived experiences through interviews and her use of Instagram. This chapter is grounded in topical nodes that emerged in her narration that include her parentification, language acquisition, schooling, and mental health. Chapter 4 analyzes the ambivalent relationship participants have with social media platforms because of its implications for user mental health, the profitability of user attention, and extraction of user data. Chapter 5 is the conclusion and examines how the photographic practice of one participant generates a discussion of whose artistic practices are elevated and are not, and that methods of storytelling exist beyond the parameters of disciplines. It further offers a methodological frame and reflection of the dissertation. The conclusion concludes by offering future research directions that build upon the dissertation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Anthropology

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Escamilla, Breanna Sophia

Contributors dc:contributor

• Davis, Jenny L.
• Smalls, Krystal A.
• Davis, Jenny L
• Smalls, Krystal A
• Harrison, Faye V
• Velez, Emma

• Anthropology
• Latinx Studies
• Latina Feminist Studies
• Digital Studies
• Queer Studies

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Breanna Escamilla

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/130168

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F130168