People often think about how they want to present themselves to others. Self-presentation is the presentation of self that individuals tend to perform intentionally and desire to be seen by others. This study aimed to understand how people use social media, specifically Facebook, to influence others. This study specifically investigated the intricate strategies teachers employ in crafting their online identities on Facebook and thoroughly analyzed the rhetoric and gender expression they present on the platform. Kenneth Burke's Dramatistic Pentad, Erving Goffman's Dramaturgical Approach, and Jones' Five Types of Self-Presentation were used to depict the participants' self-identification tactics. This qualitative study used content analysis of data. The study observed 11 teachers with different gender identities who are active Facebook users. The researcher observed the participants' Facebook posts for three months to carefully make an analysis of the participants' rhetoric regarding their self-presentation and gender expression. Representatives from each gender identity were considered: male, female, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. The researcher administered a structured interview with open-ended questions to explore the breadth and depth of this study. The findings suggest that teachers still struggle to fully express themselves on social media platforms such as Facebook, due to concerns about how their online image might impact their professional reputation.This study supports Goffman's hypothetical structure wherein people's self-introduction in the social condition adjusts and cooperates on the job they are currently in. This means that teachers display a specific character online that they want the public to perceive about them.

Authors:
Jacqueline Recaña, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Jacqueline B. Recaña is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Humanities, University of the Philippines Los Baños in the Philippines.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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