The Buzz On Bumble - Jessica Fahner

THE BUZZ ON BUMBLE 1
The Buzz on Bumble: An Examination of Gender Norms in a Feminist Dating App
Jessica Fahner
Saint Marys College of California

Table of Contents
Abstract.3
Introduction/Background..4
Literature Review.4
The Feminist Standpoint Theory and the Spiral of Silence Theory.5
Online Dating and Dating Apps...6
Hook-Up Culture..9
Gendered Communication Styles.11
The Creation of Bumble...13
Method Statement15
Analysis16
Implications and Conclusion29
Gender Roles Demonstrated on Bumble..29
Users of Bumble...32
Limitations....34
Conclusion35
Bibliography.36
Appendices...38
Abstract
This study will focus on the dating app Bumble and the effects that it has on
communication styles. Specifically, this paper explores the implications of Bumble toying with
traditional gender communication styles by encouraging women to initiate the conversations.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects on the communication process when women
are required to initiate conversations as opposed to men who usually initiate conversations when
flirting the majority of the time. The study consisted of a total of six anonymous interviews;
three men and three women who are familiar with Bumble. There were several differences
between the genders and their opinion of changing tradition communication patterns. For the
most part, the women interviewed did not care for initiating the conversation because they
experienced stress. While all the men interviewed liked women initiating the conversation and
preferred that women initiate more conversations. However, both genders were not serious users
of dating apps mentioning that novelty of dating apps were meant for amusement and were
perceived as a farce.
Key terms: gender communication styles, online dating and dating apps, hook-up culture,
dating culture, Feminist Standpoint Theory, Spiral of Silence Theory, communication
assertiveness
Introduction
Traditional gender communication style entails the male gender initiating the
conversation and overall seeming to have to majority of power and control over a conversation
when flirting. The Feminist Standpoint Theory and the Spiral of Silence Theory could be helpful
in understanding the difference in gender communication and the lack of womens assertiveness
in communication. As a result of the growing gender equality in todays societal social norms,
traditional communication styles are beginning to be questioned and changed particularly in the
realm of dating. Bumble is a dating app that matches users by showing a variety of profile
pictures within a selected age range and distance (e.g. 21-25 years old/ within 20 mi.). The user
swipes right to express interest or left to express disinterest. When two users both swipe right,
they are matched and then women are required to initiate a conversation. If the woman chooses
not to initiate the conversation, the match expires after twenty-four hours and disappears as an
option in the inbox. When the settings are changed to same-sex partners or the Bumble BFF
settings, when two users are matched either user can initiate the conversation. Due to the
growing popularity of dating apps and computer-mediated communication, this study is very
significant to communication today. This paper will explore the implications of the dating app
Bumble by encouraging women to initiate conversations.
Literature Review
Introduction
This essay is part of a much larger research project that will gather data through the use
of interviews of gender behaviors when using the dating app Bumble. The topic categories
include, online dating and dating apps, hookup culture, and gendered communication styles.
These topics all contribute useful ideas, concepts, and notions that are relevant to the research
project.
The Feminist Standpoint Theory and the Spiral of Silence Theory
The Feminist Standpoint theory and the Spiral of Silence theory are able to provide
theoretical framework, which offers insight and understanding of womens communication
styles. Through the Feminist Standpoint theory, communication is emphasized to change and
influence ones outlook on issues. Rosemary Hennessys (1993) critique on the Feminist
Standpoint theory describes the history, importance, and application of the theory. Through
Marxist ideology, the theory explains the connections between womens lives and knowledge
(Hennessy, 1993). Meaning that the Feminist Standpoint Theory can help to explain the ways in
which women are often oppressed and exploited in society and how women either resist the
oppression and exploitation, or often consent to it. It can also help explain the inconsistencies
and illogicalities of women turning on each other. Specifically, in terms of this study, the
Feminist Standpoint Theory can explain the standpoint of womens position in dating app
culture. The way that women communicate and are systematically socialized to communicate is
greatly influenced by their standpoint in society. The theory provides theoretical analysis on the
possible communication patterns and styles that arise from this study.
The Spiral of Silence Theory theorizes that those who are more privileged in society feel
that they are the majority and thus become more dominant in communication over time, whereas
the minority grows quiet (Matthes, 2015). The Spiral of Silence Theory is very relevant to this
study. It theoretically explains the way in which women experience a spiral of silence when
communicating. As men are traditionally more privileged in society than women, they become
the majority in a communication setting and typically dominate conversation. Women therefore,
are thrown into a spiral of silence in which they become silenced because they are not apart of
the majority in communication. This theory offers an explanation as to why women are not as
equally assertive in communication style as men. Furthermore, another aspect of the Spiral of
Silence theory includes the importance of social perception. For example, according to Scheufle
and Moys (2000) critique of the Spiral of Silence theory, perceptions of public opinion matter
not only because individuals attend to their social environment, but also because these
perceptions potentially influence individual behavior and attitudes (p. 6). Social environments
have a lot of influence on communication and individuals rely on public opinion to gather a
sense of reference for what is or is not acceptable. Public opinion therefore contributes to the
concept of the spiral of silence, in which individuals voice their opinion when it aligns with the
majority of the public opinion as opposed to the less favorable minority. Thus, the Spiral of
Silence theory could explain womens lack of assertiveness in conversation because it is against
the traditional thought that women communicate with assertiveness. Women might also spiral
into silence because their opinions might go against public opinion.
Online Dating and Dating Apps
The realm of dating has progressed since the traditional days of meeting someone on the
street followed by a date consisting of sharing a dinner together. In todays modern age, dating is
a different game. Dating culture evolved into using online dating and shortly after online dating
gave rise to dating apps. Now, there is even more opportunity for social interaction through
technology. Online dating consists of men and women creating online profiles and
communicating through the mediation of dating websites. Finkel, Eastwick, Reis, and Sprecher
compare the differences between conventional dating and online dating. They analyze whether
online dating is more successful or more effective for meeting people. For instance, Finkel,
Eastwick, Reis, and Sprecher (2012) compare the pros and cons of online dating,
Many sites provide users with very large numbers of profiles, causing them to use time
efficient but minimally thoughtful strategies for choosing among them and potentially
reducing their willingness to commit to any one partner. Moreover, many of these sites
allow users to make unlimited selections, contacting hundreds of potential partners,
which can cheapen the value of being contacted and overwhelm the most desirable
potential partners. (p. 49)

Similarly, Mantels article Online Dating, provides analysis of online dating culture which
specifies a background leading up to the rise and popularity of dating apps. Mantel discusses the
demographics of computer mediated dating; 10 percent of college-age students, who are more
likely to have singles around them than other age groups, have used dating sites or dating mobile
apps (Mantel, 2015). Although the concept of online dating websites and apps are similar, they
attract different audiences. Mantels (2015) article provides a brief comparison between the users
of dating apps and online dating sites: users of the dating app Coffee meets Bagel are college
graduates and young professionals as opposed to older generations that prefer online dating.
Lawson and Lecks article provide insight into the possible reasons users choose to
participate in online dating and therefore dating apps. These include seeking companionship,
comfort, control over presentation of self, freedom from commitment and stereotypes, adventure,
and romantic fantasy (Lawson & Leck, 2006). Online dating also softened the blow of rejection,
and although the pain of rejection is unavoidable, the loss is not a substantial loss (Lawson &
Leck, 2006, 205-206). Lawson and Leck found that although there are risks in Internet dating,
such as lying and deception, most users found it to be more beneficial than traditional dating and
the risks were not too great. On they whole, they found that, the participants in the study were
drawn to online dating and used it to decrease their loneliness, acquire comfort, and find
excitement (Lawson & Leck, 2006). Furthermore, it is inevitable that people in our society turn
to technology in order to keep connected to loved ones. Online dating is a natural course of
action as most of our relationships are mediated with communication. As a result of the growing
technology use in order to mediate intimacy, Vetere, et al. seek to understand the way in which
technology is used and aids the intimacy in relationships. The authors conclude that it is
unavoidable that people use technology to mediate intimacy. Although, mediated communication
does not replace true intimacy, it just makes us feel connected to those we care about (Vetere, et
al., 2005).
Deceit and lying in online dating profiles is a great concern for online dating users. MTV
even created the television series Catfish, which investigates computer mediated intimacy and
deceit. Notably, Lawson and Leck cited lying and deception as one of the risks of online dating.
In Toma and Hancocks study, they explore deception and lying in online dating profiles. The
study seeks to discover whether humans can judge profiles and spot deception. Unfortunately,
the study found that people are poor judges at discovering deception online. Interestingly, Toma
and Hancock found that writing style and the length of a profile description were indicators of
sincerity or deception. Lengthy profile descriptions were thought to be more trustworthy and
honest than shorter descriptions (Toma & Hancock, 2012). The results of Toma and Hancocks
study are particularly noteworthy because most dating apps have either no or little space
allocated for a personal description in a profile. Bumble primarily uses photos for its profiles, but
provides a small space for self-description. A small description space could ultimately influence
users of dating apps to perceive more deception and whether they truly trust the system of dating
apps.
Hook-Up Culture
As a result of technology influence on dating culture, a type of dating culture emerged:
hook-up culture. Hook-up culture defines relationships as being used for casual sex. Dating apps
have become negatively associated with influencing hook-up culture and being used only for
casual hook-ups. David and Cambre analyze hook-up culture and the way in which dating apps,
like Tinder or Bumble, are used in hook up culture. They examine Tinders intended purposes
and what users presume when using the app. Primarily, they examine the superficiality of the
swipe logic that dating apps use. Swipe logic is the user interface used by dating apps: swipe
left to tell the app that youre uninterested in the profile picture shown, and swipe right to tell the
app that you are interested. If two users swipe right for each other, they will be matched and
begin communicating through the app. However, it has been criticized that swipe logic is
superficial because the user is primarily shown profile pictures. In contrast, the Tinder CEOs
assertion that the poverty of information actually promotes the intensification of connection
between people demonstrates the plane of transcendence or movement of abstraction and
simultaneous embodiment as being successfully in play (David & Cambre, 2016, 6).
Similar to Tinder, Grindr is a dating app created for gay users. Corriero and Tom Tong (2016)
assess the attitudes and uses of Grindr in terms of the uncertainty management theory, for
instance,
[Uncertainty Management Theory] provides several possible explanations for the
association between sexual goals and desire for uncertainty: One is that daters value
uncertainty because it allows them to maintain the perception of control over the casual
nature of their encounters. Uncertainty may provide daters with a way to preserve
positive illusions about their sexual partners by avoiding additional (and potentially
unpleasant) information about them. (p. 137)
In hook-up culture, lack of control and uncertainty are positive aspects, unlike traditional dating
culture where uncertainty is unwelcome. Those who seek a partner in hook-up culture do not
desire to learn intimate details about their partner; they wish to maintain the uncertainty that
encompasses the relationship. Furthermore, Reiber and Garcia provide interesting answers to
explain the reason and prevalence of hook-up culture. Their study explores hook-up culture on
college campuses as well as gendered perceptions of hook-up culture. College campuses and
adults in their twenties most prevalently engage in hook-up culture. Reiber and Garcia found that
men are more comfortable with sexual behaviors. However, both genders overestimated the
others comfort to engage in sexual behavior, Reiber and Garcia believe that this misconception
of over assuming comfort with hook-up culture reinforces the culture (Reiber & Garcia, 2010).
In contrast to many studies, Hobbs, Owen, and Gerber argue against the idea that
committed partnerships have dissolved into superficial things due to the increase of technology.
Specifically, they explore criticism that dating apps have created a hook-up culture and that they
are the cause for societys deviation away from traditional relationships and monogamy. For
instance,
Indeed, the data suggest that a majority of individuals continue to value and seek these
social phenomena, and are merely using the technology as a means to pursue meaningful
partnerships. This studys participants felt they have more romantic and relationship
possibilities than previous generations, and that the technologies give them greater
agency with regard to pursuing and meeting potential lovers and companions. (Hobbs,
Owen, & Gerber, 2016, 11)
Hobbs, Owen, and Gerber found that the majority of users find dating apps very useful and an
effective way to meet people. Technology has allowed young adults to better socialize than in the
past. However, many users also found flaws in the dating apps. Users perceived the dating apps
as being superficial because of their emphasis on profile pictures (Hobbs, Owen, & Gerber,
2016). The emphasis of profile pictures could lead to hook-up culture because the interface
inherently emphasizes the physical attributes of a partner as opposed to the intellectual, personal
aspects most likely needed to make a long lasting connection. Yet, the purpose of dating apps is
to ultimately connect people socially.

Gendered Communication Styles
The way that genders communicate has changed drastically in the last 50 years. It is
much more socially acceptable to for women to engage in the initiation in dating culture and
display assertiveness in communication. While this prerogative was merely available to women
in the form of a Sadie Hawkins dance, women are able to engage in a more assertive tone than
previous social norms allowed. In Sussman and Tysons (2000) study, they examine gender
communication styles in an online news forum; specifically they looked for gender power
expressions to gauge power behaviors. These included the length of a post, initiated
communication, and content of opinion versus fact. The study found that women initiated
communication more frequently than men, especially when the topic was related to females. The
researchers postulated that this was due to womens communication style being socio-emotional
and their style works to support and prolong the conversation. Men were more opinionated than
women, especially when the topic had to do to males. However, when the topic was gender-
neutral men were even more likely to be opinionated (Sussman & Tyson 2000). Sussman and
Tysons study is extremely enlightening in the way that gender effects communication. Womens
communication style is formulated to initiate and maintain communication, and therefore is more
proficient to initiate conversations on dating apps, which Bumble encourages. Women are
successfully assertive in their communication styles by initiating conversations and maintaining
the continuity and progress of the conversation. Although womens communication does not
seem as assertive as mens conversation style, for instance, men appearing opinionated, it seems
that each gender is assertive and displays dominance in its own way.
Lee produces data on gendered communication, by studying participants interpretations
of anonymous text. Most importantly, the study discusses the potential consequences of using
stereotypical gender-specific communication styles. The article also discusses conformity to
ones gender through communication styles, for instance, the anonymity and depersonalization
of the study led to participants categorizing language. Genders therefore modified their language
to be more stereotypical, so that they could be more easily identified. Participants who identified
the excerpt of text fell back on gender normative stereotyping in order to identify the gender of
the person who wrote the clip of text (Lee, 2007). Similary, Bamman, Einstein, and Schnoebelen
also study gender communication patterns online. The study provides very interesting
quantitative data about the way female and male genders communicate online. The data found
supports the theory that men and women tend to have different communication styles while using
media platforms, but also acknowledges females and males who use different communication
styles than their own gender. According to Bamman, Einstien and Schonebelen (2014), the study
found evidence that women are more likely to use emoticons and pronouns, while men are more
likely to use numbers and swear words. The study does not speculate how these differences in
communication styles could ultimately impact communication. Emoticons could provide women
to be more assertive in an online conversation by adding the influence of interpersonal
communication that emoticons convey. While men might be asserting themselves in the
conversation by using swear words. Furthermore, in Lawson and Lecks study, the researchers
analyze the reasoning behind using an online dating site. An interesting point mentioned as a
desire for online dating was the interest to escape gendered roles. Online dating sites allow users
to break free from the gendered interactions of dating culture and stereotypical gender behavior.
Genders are able to escape some of the societal expectations that encompass dating culture;
women are able to be more firm and assertive, while men can be more open with emotions and
language (Lawson & Leck, 2006).

The Creation of Bumble
The founder of Bumble created the app after a very public and dramatic parting from the
dating app Tinder. Whitney Wolf was co-founder of Tinder. However, she sued Tinder for
sexual harassment and discrimination by her fellow co-founder (Guynn). Wolf claims that she
was subjected to abusive behavior, which included receiving inappropriate private messages
from co-founder Justin Mateen (Guynn). She also asserted that Mateen stripped Wolfe of her co-
founder title because he felt that having a 24-year old woman as co-founder made the company
seem unprofessional to him (Guynn). After leaving, and filing a lawsuit against Tinder, Wolfe
began her new venture: Bumble. In a Vanity Fair interview, Wolf identifies Bumble as a feminist
dating app and has feminist undertones,
If you look at where we are in the current heteronormative rules surrounding dating, the
unwritten rule puts the woman a peg under the manthe man feels the pressure to go
first in a conversation, and the woman feels pressure to sit on her hands. I dont think
there is any denying it. If we can take some of the pressure off the man and put some of
that encouragement in the womans lap, I think we are taking a step in the right direction,
especially in terms of really being true to feminism. I think we are the first feminist, or
first attempt at a feminist-dating app. (Yashari)
Furthermore, in an interview with Racked, Wolfe says that she wanted to modernize dating
(Darwin). Wolfe noticed that in her own life that her friends were hesitant to go up to talk to
men, and she felt that the realm of dating was outdated (Darwin). She refers to boosting
confidence and putting the woman in control as reasons for having women make the first move
(Darwin). There is significance in which Bumble was created. Despite Wolfe having faced
discrimination and harassment, she recognized a problem in the dynamic between men and
women and sought to rectify the inequality. She particularly noticed the inequality between men
and women in the realm of dating and noted womens lack or and hesitance to be independent
when dating. Moreover, since Wolfe was one of the original founders of Tinder, that would
explain why Bumble and Tinder interfaces and concepts are similar in many ways. This study
specifically looks at the way that Bumble reinforces or challenges traditional gender norms and
expectations.
The literature of the history and analysis of online dating was very prevalent and widely
discussed. Hook-up culture was substantially linked to dating apps and there was a decent
amount of literature that analyzed hook-up culture. Gendered communication styles was not
always linked or interpreted through the medium of technology. The scope of gendered
communication styles encompassed a larger scope than originally intended. The interviews with
Whitney Wolfe, which described her views and intentions for the app, offered a lot of insight
into the use and importance of the app. This is most likely a result of the literature that explains
dating app culture and the way that gender communication styles work within dating apps.
Method Statement
The central question that I am addressing in my thesis is what are the effects on
interpersonal communication as a result of the Bumble app requiring women to start
conversations. Further research questions include, how when women initiate conversation does it
affect gender communications in the realm of dating? How does technology like Bumble affect
traditional gender communication styles?
I will be conducting qualitative respondent interviews; the study will explore the
sociology of the research. The interviews will be anonymous in the completed report and then
analyzed. I will be using convenience sampling and snowball sampling to gather participants.
The participants will have disclosed before the interview that they have used the Bumble dating
app, and they are familiar with its interface. The participants will be Saint Marys students, 3
women and 3 men, around the ages of 18-25. I am seeking to gather data on how Bumble
influences and affects its users, particularly how interpersonal communication plays out in a
dating app that encourages female assertiveness in conversation. Some of the interview questions
will include: As a woman/man how do you feel when using Bumble?, As a woman/man, how do
you feel about women having to initiate the conversation?, How is your own communication
style altered, if at all because women initiate the conversation on Bumble?, etc. In order to
analyze each interview in the final report, each interview will be recorded and transcribed. See
Appendix A. for the full list of interview questions and Appendix B. to view the consent form
that will be given to participants. This study will benefit society by providing an examination and
analysis of the way that dating culture and communication in dating is changing and evolving in
the digital age.
Analysis
In this section, interviews will be individually summarized and then analyzed as a whole.
They are organized in such a way to group similar themes. The female and male interviews are
grouped together based on gender because there were noticeable communication patterns based
on gender. The final female interview, which held similar views to those of the male interviews,
is the last interview analyzed before progressing into analysis of the male interviews. In order to
keep the identities of the participants anonymous, female interviews will be identified as FA, FB,
and FC and male interviews will be identified as MA, MB, and MC. These abbreviations stand
for Female A, Male A, etc.

The participant FA expressed a lot of discomfort having to begin a conversation on
Bumble and in general dating interactions. She described her communication style as very
passive,
You start the conversation, which is - actually I didnt like that part. Cause I think Id
rather have someone reach out to me because I dont really- I dont know I didnt really
have anything to say. I would usually be like hey! [Laughs] I didnt know how to start a
conversation.
It is rather significant that this participant stated that she hardly ever made the first move.
Despite having the power to be assertive, she was reluctant to use it. Furthermore, it is also
significant that this participant suggested that she liked traditional gender roles in dating, which
the man makes contact first as opposed to her making the first move. She preferred that men
reach out to her, online and in face-to-face situations. Specifically, she mentioned being
comfortable with showing interest in someone first after previously hanging out. I mean I guess
its an unfair standard, but I would never initially ask somebody to hangout with me for the first
time. I would rather have them show the interest in me first and then maybe after hanging out for
a while I would ask them hey you want to hang out or even text them first. You know stuff like
that. Therefore her lack of assertiveness pervaded into her face-to-face interactions and just not
her interactions on Bumble. Participant FA heavily relied on men to be assertive and to begin a
conversation. She relied heavily on gender roles and was reluctant to stray from them when
dating. Furthermore, when asked why she was so uncomfortable starting a conversation, the
interviewee answered, I dont know I think I have a power trip [laughs]. I like to feel like I have
power, you know what I mean? I would just rather have someone show interest in me and then
me not telling them I have interest or not. I play kind of this weird game. It is extremely
noteworthy that participant FA identified the idea of power as the capability to reject
conversation advances. The participant identifies a power play in which concealing her emotions
allot her more power than men in the dynamic of flirting. Furthermore, Bumble gives a 24-hour
time limit for matches, if a woman does not begin a conversation before then the match will
expire. However, Bumble allows men to extend the conversation an extra 24-hours for women to
start a conversation. Interviewee FA really valued this feature. Interviewee FA rarely initiated
conversations and only did so if she found them very attractive or if they were attractive and they
extended the conversation for the extra 24-hours. When asked why she preferred not to initiate
the conversation, she referred to feeling special and being able to better judge someone by their
first response,
I think I have that personality; I like to be chased. Cause this is dating specific, I would
rather have somebody approach me rather than I approach them. It kind of makes you
feel special [] Uh, because I think its nice to see what that first text that guy would
send me. And then you can decide dont text this guy back or maybe hes genuine. Like
the first text says a lot, unless its hey.
I interpreted participant FA as very reliant on gender norms and disliked the pressure of having
to be assertive when dating. It should be noted that participant FA felt powerful in traditional
dating roles, especially when she was in the position to reject or accept affections.
Participant FBs results were more or less similar to participant FA. She too described her
communication style as being extremely passive. Interestingly, participant FB considers herself a
feminist 100 percent but was less than thrilled with the feature that women made the first move
on this feminist app. Consequently, participant FB found that the 24-hour time extension was
empowering,
Its too much control. There is no lack of control because I have all the power to message
them. Also if someones interested in you then you can extend your time, so thats the
one time when I will message them. And thats very empowering because that tells me
that they want me to talk to them and those are the only times on Bumble that I do talk to
guys is when they do extend their time on me. Other than that its more like cute face!
We matched! Cool. Moving on um but you literally have all the control and if you
want the match to go away then it will but the extension is a nice touch.
I interpreted the 24-hour extension as a way in which women could continue to remain passive as
opposed to assertive on this app. The 24-hour extension acted in a way in which men could still
make the first move, even though the app basically prevented them from initiating contact.
Interviewee FB reasoned that women had more power in the dynamic of conversation because
women have the power to reject or further the conversation when men initiate the conversation.
This very similar to what participant FA previously stated. The interviewee preferred this type of
power as opposed to the power when initiating the conversation,
I think its less pressure for us because I feel like- it sucks but like stereotypically we get
to choose if we want to talk to them. And we can say oh my god that guy is such a
creeper he messaged me on tinder, but guys dont usually say oh that girls such a
creeper. Because of gender we can do that [] and I mean I feel bad for talking only to
the guys that extend the time but I mean I have the power to do that.
Interviewee FB also acknowledged the power that women have when rejecting or accepting
others. This power that she saw in the dynamic did not lie in being assertive but rather in being
passive. Specifically, I interpreted this fear and intimidation of being assertive as an aspect of
gender conditioning, in which this participant was conditioned to communicate in a way that is
socially acceptable for women to communicate and was very uncomfortable when she had to
stray from her pre-conditioned communication style. Furthermore, participant FB also identified
Bumble as a relationship app in comparison to other dating apps because women have the
power of conversation and are stigmatized as wanting a relationship. This was a very interesting
and suggestive point that interviewee FB made. Interviewee FB perceived men and women to
take Bumble more seriously because women had more perceived control on the app. As Bumble
was perceived as being run by women, it gained the reputation for those who want to use the app
to find a relationship rather than hook-up like other dating apps where men traditionally make
the first move.
In the interview with participant FC, the tone and themes of the interview were greatly
contrasted to the other female interviews. Although this participant was much more assertive in
her conversations on Bumble compared to the other female participants, she also identified
herself as a passive communicator when flirting. She also identified herself as feminist like
participant FB did. Although she did concede that if she came across someone who she perceived
as very attractive she would change her communication pattern to be more assertive.
Interestingly, even though she initiated a conversation, she would still allow men to lead the
conversation depending on her current state of emotions, sometimes I dont even ask what are
you doing today- I let them ask how are you doing. Im just say like hi. It just depends on the
person [Im talking to]. Participant FC used the most balanced approach when communicating
on Bumble. It is notable that although she did utilize the assertive approach, she still allowed
men to be assertive as well and thus created an equitable power dynamic in the conversation. In
comparison to the other female interviews, interviewee FC liked that women could begin the
conversation first, and I also like the fact that girls can- girls can like talk first- even though
when Im on Tinder I dont even talk first but its like I dont know why that- I dont know. But
so on Bumble I kind of like that girls can talk first because it breaks the social norm. Participant
FC was very aware of the social norms that surround dating and gender. She was also open to
change, more so than the other participants. It is significant to note that although participant FC
was willing to embrace an assertive communication style on Bumble by first starting the
conversation, she was reluctant to proceed with the same actions on other dating apps that did
not require her to do so. This is also important when considering the extent of social
conditioning. Even though women are capable and willing to use a more assertive
communication style, they neglect to because they have been conditioned to remain passive. In
opposition of the other female interviews, participant FC felt that gender greatly affected
communication and acknowledged the influence of society in gender communication. She also
felt that her own communication was affected by her gender and acknowledged the effect in her
own communication. She was also well-educated and versed on gender communication style
having just written a ten-page paper about the topic,
Basically, I feel, that in cross-sex communication, males dominate the conversation []
so basically, I think that men and women possess different communication styles but
thats just due to society building male and female communication styles from birth
cause, um, we learn gender and within that gender we have a set of communication styles
that are taught to us um and so women are taught to kind of maintain relationships or
closeness and to like if theyre gonna criticize others to criticize them in an acceptable
manner um and to uh [pause] oh yeah and when theyre talking to like other women they
would make sure to like, interpret what the other person is saying correctly like they
wanna understand what the other person is saying. And boys kind of learn how to do
different things like to assert a position of dominance in a conversation or to um attract
and maintain an audience or maybe even assert their dominance when someone else is
speaking so in these communication styles they kind of butt heads sometimes or males
kind of dominate in cross-sex communication [] Like when I was doing this paper, I
was like oh yeah this totally happens, I see this happen all the time.
What participant FC describes is the affects of social conditioning that have affected
communication. She acknowledges the way in which society does have influence over the way
that genders communicate; especially the ways in which genders communicate with each other.
This knowledge of social influences on communication allowed participant FC to identify these
aspects in her own life. Therefore, interviewee FC was the only participant interviewed that was
very aware of the way in which society and communication worked together. This knowledge
appeared to be rare among the other participants.
Male participants were more difficult to gather for the study, as many men at Saint
Marys college did not appear to use Bumble. Also, when trying to gather participants, one man
approached refused to participate in an interview, I perceived this to be a result of being shy.
Interviewee MA, identified himself as very passive when communicating and thought of
himself as cool, calm, and collected. He also noticed that gender affected his own
communication,
I see how me being a male affects me in every other bit of my life and its just kind of no
exception, you know? So with that I try and take it into account and tone it down cause
its not like everyone want to talk to like a hyper aggressive male, you know? Not saying
that Im always hyper aggressive but the name of the game when youre a student athlete
is that you gotta be ready to go. So without me thinking about it a lot it definitely does
influence what I say. I try not to let it take over what Im saying [] Thats why I really
like Bumble because its taking gender norms and just switching it. Usually- I mean in
popular society, its usually male dominated, you know? Like they want guys to initiate
everything like from a conversation to how they get to the dinner and how- its all run in
a mans mind by the man and I kind of dont like that idea. Id rather it be more open and
more neutral, so
Participant MA was very much aware of the influence gender had on his communication style.
He recognized the way in which men have dominated most of society, and how he prefers that
the standard of male domination change. He appeared to be preoccupied with not allowing his
predisposition of male dominance affect his communication with others. Thus, I interpret that he
recognized the way in which males are taught to communicate in society and be assertive, but he
wanted to reject the social norm in his own communication style. Significantly, participant MA
noticed that as a student athlete he was expected to be aggressive. This is a very interesting
gender expectation which participant MA identified. Although he identified himself as very
passive and not predisposed to being aggressive, as a student athlete he was expected to behave
as such. Furthermore, interviewee MA advocated for an equal setting in which both genders
could communicate through a dynamic that does not conform to traditional gender norms.
Although participant MA did not express extreme discomfort in starting a conversation, he
largely advocated for women gain more assertion in conversation and argued against gender
norms. In his own personal experience, he mentioned that his last girlfriend had initiated almost
everything from conversations to dates. This might explain why participant MA was attracted to
Bumble in the first place. It could be inferred from the interview data that he seeks out assertive
or forthright qualities in a partner. Furthermore, participant MA felt that Bumble had an

important role in empowering women, I think that its geared more towards women to give
them the primary role. And yeah I believe that its our best attempt to try to switch the social
and cultural norm of men dominatingpretty much everything. Compared to the female
participants FA and FB, participant MA saw a lot of value in switching the gender roles. He
identified excessive male power and dominance as a negative aspect of society. It is very
interesting to note that participant MA, who is male, identifies excessive male dominance in
society as problematic while most of the female participants did not. Participant MA advocated
for women initiating more conversations in the future, [Im] all for it if [women] want to handle
it! You know, its in good hands in my perspective [] A lot of guys are just assholes, which is
why we need women to have this priority because if men just dominated everything that would
suck for women. 2016 would feel like 1816. Interviewee MA acknowledges the worth and
value of women becoming more assertive in society. He concedes that a male dominated society
is lacking, and women have a lot to offer society. An equal social dynamic between genders
benefits society and posses an abundance of opportunities.
Interviewee MB, also identified himself as being a passive communicator. He referred to
how he doesnt like to force a conversation between him and a woman,
You have to wait for the girls to buzz back (respond) or whatever so I think that its like a
little more interesting in that sense and thats actually one of the things that drew me to it
because I wanted to see what that was like. Because normally its like you know for most
well just in general, for most dating sites theres usually more guys on there than girls
on there so for Bumble it was kind of interesting to see that, how it flips the roles like
that.
It is significant that participant MB expressed an interest in women starting the conversation and
that he wanted to experience that situation. He displays an eagerness and willingness to
experiment with and change gender roles. Participant MB felt that gender affected male
communication in confidence when talking or starting conversations with women. Noticeably,
this idea of men experiencing anxiousness when starting a conversation came up frequently in
participant MBs interview. Interviewee MB expressed empathy for men that experienced
extreme pressure due to traditional social norms, Ive asked like a lot of guys about this too, and
theyve always said like I would have no problem talking to girl but its just that initial going up
and talking to them. Like saying hey whats up my name is blah blah blah like introducing
yourself like all that sort of stuff. What participant MB describes is the general stress that he
perceives men to experience in the realm of dating. Dismissing the traditional dating style would
benefit men, especially if they experience extreme stress when dating. Interviewee MB
acknowledges that men are also suffering from traditional gender roles, and it is in the interest of
both genders to dispute stereotypical gender expectations. He sees the benefits that a lack of
traditional gender roles could create. Furthermore, participant MB also noted that not much has
changed in traditional dating culture, and that men still commonly start a conversation,
I feel like in the past, the guy has to go up to the girl thats like you know the- and they
you know- in high school, you had the Sadie Hawkins dance. They had to specifically
make a dance where the girls asked the guys so like that alone shows you where we were
and where we kind of still are in terms of society and how like guys and girls
communicate.
MB was the only participant that acknowledged that there has not been much change or progress
in dating roles. Traditional gender roles are still very prevalent; men are still expected to make
the first move and women are still required to be passive. There has not been a change in the way
in which genders communicate with each other when flirting or dating. In addition, interview
MB also found that overall it was attractive when women began the conversation, Um, I
personally find it attractive when a girl initiates a conversation. Im not saying that it has to be
that case every single time. I think guys should definitely do that as well. But I think it should go
both ways. Like a girl shouldnt have to feel afraid to like message a guy. It is significant that
participant MB found women who were assertive as more attractive. This might explain why he
and other men were originally attracted to the app. Evidence from the interview with MB,
supports the notion that men are very supportive and favor the idea of women increasing their
assertion in conversation when dating.
In the interview with participant MC, the participant enjoyed using Bumble and enjoyed
the change in gender norms. Interviewee MC noticed a difference in perception of dating apps
and how Bumble had a reputation because women began the conversation,
More so with Tinder [there is a connotation of a hook up culture] than with Bumble
because girls get to choose. Like theres a connotation that girls are more like- get more
emotionally invested in relationships and want to form more of an emotional attachment
before. So I think theres more of that stigma with Tinder but less so with Bumble but its
still there because like all girls put be above six-foot and like dogs in their bio but also
not here for a hookup.
This observation was very similar to participant FBs observation, who also noted that Bumble
was perceived as a relationship app and taken more seriously. It appears that genders are
commonly stereotyped; that women are perceived as relationship oriented, while men are more
interested hook-up culture. This was a very interesting phenomenon that presented itself in the
data and displays the way in which gender roles are reinforced in society. In addition, despite
two out of three girls only initiating conversations when the time was extended, participant MC
did not see any value in the time extension feature on Bumble,
If you extend the match, usually the girl is really attractive, thats the only time Ive used
like this one time when this girl was ridiculously attractive. So like- I dont know but like
why would you extend- why would you forward someone you time when you dont even
know them like, oh, why would I forward you my time when I dont even know you yet.
You could be really attractive but that doesnt mean that your personality is gonna be like
fun to have a conversation with or something like that.
This was a very interesting part of data that surfaced in the research. Interviewee MC did not see
the value or significance in the 24-hour extension, while the female participants FA and FB
placed a lot of value on the time extension. Participant MC failed to observe that women were
drawn to the 24-hour time extension because it mimicked the traditional dating style.
Furthermore, participant MC felt that Bumble was empowering for women, but he also felt that
Bumble also benefited him as well. Similar to participants FA and FB, interviewee MC also felt
that women had an easier time in the realm of dating because of their social location. He even
felt that in the realm of dating women have all the power because they have the authority to
choose who they talk to and therefore have a wider range of choices in terms of potential
partners,
As a generality, guys will demand girls way more and thats why girls get to pick and
choose. But so, like I feel like you dont really have to try as hard when youre a girl. As
a generality, I guarantee that Ive spent a lot more time going after girls than girls have
gone after guys [] [women] have all the power. [Women] get to decide whether or not
the conversation goes on longer, you get to dictate cause [women are] the ones being
pursued most of the time as a generality. But, no girls have all the power, they get to
choose the guys they respond to.
Participant MC acknowledges the way in which traditional gender role expectations in the realm
of dating affect both genders. According to interviewee MC, men have to put in more effort
compared to women, because they specifically have to initiate the conversation and do most of
the work. Women rarely ever make the first move and men are therefore faced with most of the
pressure when initiating contact. Interviewee MC also recognizes how men are affected and the
way in which Bumble benefits men by relieving some of the societal pressure. In fact, participant
MC felt that womens lack of assertiveness in communication had ulterior motives, I feel like
theres a trend going towards- theres a lack of assertiveness but their lack of assertiveness is
being assertive. Because theyre making you pursue. The idea that participant MC may be
alluding to are the mind games which participant FA described, where she liked to keep men
in the dark about her true feelings toward them. This is a very interesting theme that came up in
the interviews the idea that women have a less identifiable control and power in traditional
dating, but it is still seen as power nonetheless. This is a very interesting perception that is
common in the interviews that justify traditional gender expectations. Although there is power in
accepting or rejecting affections, it does not solve the problems which traditional gender roles
provide. In addition, participant MC felt that his communication style was more assertive out of
necessity because he felt a lot of pressure to portray himself with confidence. He was once very
shy and believes that he has grown into this assertive personality, I used to be really shy. I used
be terr- I used to freeze up when talking to girls or talking to anybody in any situation [] but
then I realized that hey thats not really going anywhere for me. And even if Im not confident,
Im gonna fake being confident until Im actually confident. This is an interesting way in which
participant MC dealt with coping with societal expectations. He had to conform and make
himself appear more assertive to subscribe to what is considered more masculine behavior,
similar to participant MA who conformed to behaviors as a student athlete. This is also similar to
the gender conditioning which participant FC described and which participant FB experienced.
Moreover, interviewee MC noticed a change in his communication style when women started the
conversation,
I think on Bumble I can take more of a let them speak first stance- sort of like- because
theyre initiating, I sort of ask them more questions about themselves then sort of making
general conversation or ask them to further explain what theyre saying or like their
interests or something like that. Um, I dont feel that because theyre talking to me or
because they initiated conversation with me I dont feel I have to be as assertive or if that
makes sense. Because I wasnt the one that came in and had to make this conversation
and had to be super confident they started off. So I can be more fostering of them and
their confidence in what theyre saying.
When women start the conversation, in terms of dating, it sets a certain tone for the conversation,
and possibly the relationship. When women initiate the conversation, participant MC noticed that
women are able to foster more self-esteem when speaking and he is able to be more thoughtful
when they are speaking. Ultimately, he believes that women are capable of being more assertive
than just starting conversations, To be impressed whenever [a woman] initiates a conversation I
think would be a low expectation and I think that you should hold people to a lot higher
expectation than just initiating a conversation. Interviewee MC believes that women should not
be limited to just being assertive in conversation. Participant MC feels that women are capable of
more than what Bumble acknowledges; women can be more formidable in other prospects other
than dating. Perhaps Bumble will encourage other technology and social changes that will allow
women to flourish.
Implications and Conclusion
The implications of this study offer important insight into communication between
genders when flirting. From the analysis of the interviews, it is inferred that both men and
women want there to be less gender specified communication and a general equality in the
communication dynamic. Each of women and men interviewed stated that they believed that
women should have more have more confidence to be assertive in communication.
Gender Roles Demonstrated on Bumble
However, women are less likely to change the way they communicate when flirting.
Female participant FA and FB were both reluctant and uncomfortable having to start the
conversation on the Bumble app and in person. The men interviewed were actually the ones who
not only argued against gender norms but also advocated for women to start conversations in the
realm of dating. Women interviewed, participant FA and FB, were more comfortable with
traditional gender communication when flirting and preferred that men continue to initiate the
conversations. This dynamic could be a result of women being cautious and unfamiliar with
newfound power in the ability to initiate a conversation. A surprising theme that occurred in the
analysis was the common perception that it is easier to reject or accept a conversation starter than
it is to actually begin the conversation. Participants FA, FB, and MC felt that women had an
advantage in dating because they had the power to reject or accept advances from men.
Generally, they all conceded that women have a powerful standpoint in dating because women
do not have to put themselves out there since they simply accept or reject any advances. In
addition, according to interviewees MB and MC, they felt that men did most of the work when
it came to dating and flirting. Specifically, they felt that men had more pressure placed on them
when dating because they had to start the conversation and make the first move. I believe that
this evidence appears to be the result of an illusion that gender norms have created. Although a
woman has the power to reject or accept advances, a man also has the power to continue to
pursue a woman after the woman has already rejected him. Gender norms are problematic in the
way that they discourage and restrict women from making the first move.
Moreover, further examination of the analysis suggests women might be unfamiliar and
fearful of the possibility of rejection and may not experience the rejection as frequently as men in
the realm of dating. According to the male interviews, men would prefer that women start more
conversations when dating for various reasons. For example, they want to alleviate the pressure
and stress that is put upon them from societal expectation to make the first move. It is socially
significant that among the interviews, women rarely initiated the conversation on Bumble and
initiated it primarily when men extended the time, which expresses how much power the
reproduction of gender roles has in communication and dating. Even when women are given full
control and the ability to start a conversation, they are less inclined to use that power due to
social conditioning. Women are usually not expected to begin a conversation in dating, so when
they are expected to begin a conversation, they become uncomfortable and chose not to do so.
Even though they are given the power to start the conversation, they wait for men to signal to
them through the 24-hour extension, which is the only similar signal that Bumble allows,
equivalent to men initiating a conversation. Therefore, women are still relying on men to begin a
conversation. Even though Whitney Wolfe intended for Bumble to be a feminist dating app
attempting to change gender norms in dating, Bumble reinforces these gender norms for women.
There was also a disconnection between how genders chose to use the app. Participant FA and
FB liked the time extension on the app, but the male participants interviewed hardly ever used a
time extension. Participant MC even went so far to say, I dont know but like why would you
extend- why would you forward someone your time when you dont even know them like, oh,
why would I forward you my time when I dont even know you yet? Men did not see any value
in the 24- hour time extension. However, women found this feature very appealing and were
flattered when men used the time extension. Also, the men did not note the similarity to the
traditional dating procedure. Additionally, it should be noted that all the women interviewed
identified themselves as feminists. Although participant FC was the only woman who was
willing to partake in switched gender norms, female participants FA and FB were more
concerned with other feminist issues. In follow-up questions, the participants identified
themselves as powerful, independent women. Thus, I interpreted participants FA and FBs
aversion towards unstructured gender norms as socially conditioned. They might be socially
conditioned to prefer gender norms because of various reasons, possible even stigmatized sexual
assault that is present in dating. This concept would require further research.
Furthermore, another important theme that came up in the interviews was the that
Bumble was perceived to have a reputation for being considered a relationship app. Participant
FB and MC both classified Bumble as a relationship app, and that Bumble was separate from the
stereotypical hook-up culture which most dating apps are thought of as being a part of.
Participant FB identified Bumble as a relationship app in comparison to other dating apps
because women are stigmatized as wanting a relationship. As Bumble was perceived as being
run by women, it gained a reputation. Consumers who want to use the app to find a relationship
rather than hook-up, like other dating apps where men traditionally make the first move, are
attracted to Bumble. Moreover, as stated in the analysis, interviewee MC also considered
Bumble a relationship app,
More so with Tinder [there is a connotation of a hook-up culture] than with Bumble
because girls get to choose. Like theres a connotation that girls are more like- get more
emotionally invested in relationships and want to form more of an emotional attachment
before. So I think theres more of that stigma with Tinder but less so with Bumble but it's
still there because like all girls put be above six-foot and like dogs in their bio but also
not here for a hookup.
Gender stereotypes and norms are still being played out in Bumble. In society, women are
stereotyped as preferring relationships, and men are stereotyped preferring relationships with no
commitment. These stereotypes based on gender have shaped and formed the reputation for
Bumble. Bumble is viewed as a relationship app merely because women are seen as in charge of
the app, and their motives are perceived as seeking a relationship. These stereotypes have
transferred into the app and it would be interesting to further examine these gender stereotypes
and to see how they further played out in further research.
Users of Bumble
It is interesting that men advocated for women to begin conversations and to have more
power and assertiveness in the realm of dating. The men interviewed saw Bumble as beneficial
to both men and women. Both male participants MA and MB thought that lack of traditional
gender roles would benefit communication in the realm of dating. Furthermore, participants MC
and MB both expressed the usefulness of less strict gender roles for men who experienced high
anxiety when starting conversations with women. It is something to be acknowledged about the
participants and why they chose to use a dating app such as Bumble. Male participants
interviewed who used the app appeared overall to be more passive in their communication styles;
participants MA and MB both identified themselves as passive communicators. Specifically, in
an attempt stop my gender from influencing the study, I qualified that male participants should
not feel worried about sounding not feminist. Nevertheless, participant MA immediately
identified himself as a feminist. Participant MA also disclosed that his previous girlfriend had
initiated almost everything from conversations to dates. Thus it can be interpreted that this
participant is attracted to, or at least very comfortable, with an assertive partner. Participant MB
also disclosed that he was attracted to assertive women, Um, I personally find it attractive when
a girl initiates a conversation. Moreover, interviewee MC identified himself as being an
assertive communicator but disclosed that he was very shy as a kid and social expectations of the
male gender forced him to become a more confident and assertive communicator. In addition, the
one man who was asked to be in the study and denied my offer could be significant. This data
can infer that men using Bumble are particularly unassertive and submissive. Theoretically, the
Bumble dating app would hold a lot of appeal for these men who would be looking for a partner
or be attracted to a partner who has a more assertive communication style. Therefore, this might
explain why men advocated for women to be more assertive and argued against gender
normative behavior because they are looking for a specific type of partner who is more assertive.
There was a very interesting occurrence in which female participants used Bumble but
did not choose to make the first move. Ultimately this meant that their time spent on Bumble
consisted of simply swiping through potential matches, but never making contact. Why then
were women drawn to the app? Interestingly enough in both the Vanity Fair (Yashiri) and
Racked (Darwin) interviews with CEO Whitney Wolfe, both articles asked the young CEO why
all the men were so attractive on the app. Wolfe claims that there is no hoax in which the app is
trying to show a specific type of person before another (Yashiri), and chalks the phenomenon up
to a sophisticated group of people (Darwin) that have been drawn to the app. The
attractiveness and the quality of the male users have even been noticed on the Internet.
Furthermore, two female participants noted that Bumble had particularly attractive male users.
Participant FB stated that men on Bumble were exceedingly more attractive than the men on
Tinder. Also, participant FC noted that the men were more attractive on Bumble and that her
friend, who was dating someone she met on Bumble, [had] a really great job and [had gone] to
Stanford. I inferred from this data that perhaps the reason why women were attracted to an app
like Bumble, although unwilling to partake in procedures of Bumble, was because of the
perceived attraction of the male users. Participant FB even mentioned in the interview, albeit
somewhat jokingly, that she like to use Bumble to look at cute faces. Due to the
overwhelmingly perceived attractiveness of the male users, I inferred that this attraction might
stem from the fact that Bumble lists a users job and university that they attended in concordance
with a users picture. Since typically women hold job stability and finances in high esteem in a
potential partner, I inferred that this could be the reason that influences women to find the male
users attractive. This notion would require further research.
Limitations
One notable limitation of this study was that my own gender could have changed
participants answers. Specifically, interviewee MC continued to clarify what he was saying by
making statements such as, I dont mean to sound anti-feminist or feminist might hate me for
saying this Participant MC was particularly concerned with sounding offensive and not
providing an answer that would contribute to a feminist standpoint that he perceived was
necessary for the study. Therefore, the fact that I was a woman administering interviews may
have ultimately influenced the results. Moreover, all the male participants in the study continued
to use the pronoun you when talking about women. When referring to women, they referred to
me by use of the pronoun you. In this way, they displayed that they were very aware that I was a
woman who was administering the interview. In addition, there were several other limitations in
this study that could be elaborated in future studies. Bumbles interface only allowed for the
switch in gender roles between heterosexual matches. Therefore, I chose to only analyze
gendered communication of those who were familiar with the heterosexual setting on Bumble.
Some very interesting analysis could result from further research in the field of gay and
transgender dating and the ways in which gendered communication styles and norms work in the
realm of gay and transgender dating. It should also be noted that there are limited gay dating
apps, and there has yet to be a transgender dating app created. Thus far, there have been very few
attempts at a feminist app similar to Bumble. The Catch Dating app seems to be the only other
dating app on the market that challenges gender roles by having women initiate contact first.
Bumble has had a lot of success in challenging gender norms in the realm of dating. Hopefully,
we will see more apps in the future that challenge social norms.
Conclusion
This study could help bring attention to new technology that is encouraging feminism. It
could also enlighten the ways in which users react, or use technology that has feminist intentions.
Based on the results of the study, users of the app are ideally supportive of switching gender
norms and for women to be more assertive when dating. However, the fact women in this study
advocated for the switching of gender norms but were reluctant to do so themselves could
portray how deeply rooted gender norms are in our society. It could also mean that although
Bumble was intended to challenge societal gender norms, it ultimately reinforced gender norms
for women. It should be noted, however, that the men who participated in the study, were very
excited about the future of dating and saw many positive aspects and benefits of the new age of
dating that Bumble was creating. In the future, it would be very reassuring to see other
technologies like Bumble. Bumble encouraged the participants in this study to reconsider and
reevaluate the structure of our society and the way in which gender works in the realm of dating.
Although it made some participants uncomfortable, it introduced an idea that challenged
stereotypical norms in society that one day they might be more comfortable with and might use
themselves. Bumble could lead to many more apps that challenge conventional societal values,
and perhaps we could see additional social change in the future.
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Appendices
Appendix A.
Interview Questions
1. Why were you drawn to use dating apps?
a. What other dating apps besides Bumble?
b. Is there a particular reason youre drawn to Bumble?
2. What do you normally say to initiate a conversation on a dating app?

a. Would you say that you are more assertive or passive in your approach, why or
why not?
b. Do you use emojis or emoticons, why or why not?
3. How would you describe your own communication style when talking to someone face to
face?
a. How do you feel that gender affects communication style?
b. Do you feel that society has certain expectations of how genders should
communicate, why or why not?
c. When would you say you feel your communication is most dominant or passive?
4. Can you describe your communication style when using dating apps?
a. Why do you or do you not think that communication is easier through technology
and online, why or why not?
b. How would you describe your preferred way to meet people?
5. How is your own communication style altered, if at all because women initiate the
conversation on Bumble?
a. Why are you or are you not comfortable with the change in your communication?
b. Why would you or would you not prefer that women initiated more
conversations?
6. Why do you think that there is or is not a stigma around using dating apps?
a. Do you fear that others could be insincere and deceptive?
b. Do you feel that dating apps encourage a hook-up culture, why or why not?
c. Why do you or do you not agree with societys perception of dating apps?
d. Why do you or do not openly tell friends that you use dating apps?
e. Why do or dont you your friends also use dating apps?
7. As a woman/man how do you feel when using Bumble?
a. Why do you or do you not feel anymore or less empowered?
b. Why do you or do you not think that Bumble is geared more or less towards
women?
8. As a woman/man, how do you feel about women having to initiate the conversation?
a. Would you say that it does or does not causes you stress, why?
b. Why do you or do you not feel a lack of or too much control?
9. Do you feel overwhelmed with so many options, why or why not?
a. Does it take the thrill out of getting a match, why or why not?
b. Do you think traditional dating s less overwhelming, why or why not?
10. Is there anything else youd like to add?
Appendix B.
Dear _______________,
The title of my project is The Buzz on Bumble The main purpose of my study is to
discern the way that Bumbles interface, requiring the women to initiate the conversation, and
the way that it affects intercultural communication in dating app culture.
I am asking for your permission to participate in my study. The study would include
participation in a recorded interview. It should take you about 30 minutes to complete. Your
participation is voluntary and you may choose to withdraw at any time or choose not to answer
every question. If you choose to participate, your responses will remain anonymous; your name
will not be included in the study. Should you decide to participate, a recorded interview will be
required.
Risks to participating in this study include slight emotional discomfort due to talking
about what may be perceived as uncomfortable topics. You may choose to skip questions. There
are no direct benefits to you for participating in this research study. The study may help to
understand the affects on communication when women are encouraged to initiate conversation. It
will also help to examine gendered communication styles and peoples comfort to transfer from
traditional gender communication styles.
Once I collect the information, the interview will be transcribed and the data will be
analyzed. The data will be then presented. You are welcome to ask me for a copy of my report
when it is completed.
Should you have any questions or concerns at any point during the duration of my study,
please feel free to contact me by email at jpf1@stmarys-ca.edu. Thank you in advance for your
assistance with my research.
Most Sincerely,
Jessica Fahner
You affirm that you consent to a recorded interview that will be transcribed.
__________________________________ _______________
Signature of Participant Date
You affirm that you have read the above information and have been given a chance to ask
questions of the experimenter, if you are uncertain or unclear about any of the information
discussed above.
__________________________________ _______________
Signature of Participant Date

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The Buzz On Bumble - Jessica Fahner

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THE BUZZ ON BUMBLE 1

The Buzz on Bumble: An Examination of Gender Norms in a Feminist Dating App

Saint Marys College of California

The Feminist Standpoint Theory and the Spiral of Silence Theory.5

Online Dating and Dating Apps...6

Gendered Communication Styles.11

The Creation of Bumble...13

Implications and Conclusion29

Gender Roles Demonstrated on Bumble..29

traditional gender communication styles by encouraging women to initiate the conversations.

dating culture, Feminist Standpoint Theory, Spiral of Silence Theory, communication

Bumble by encouraging women to initiate conversations.

The Feminist Standpoint Theory and the Spiral of Silence Theory

theoretical framework, which offers insight and understanding of womens communication

into silence because their opinions might go against public opinion.

Online Dating and Dating Apps

allow users to make unlimited selections, contacting hundreds of potential partners,

potential partners. (p. 49)

As a result of technology influence on dating culture, a type of dating culture emerged:

between people demonstrates the plane of transcendence or movement of abstraction and

[Uncertainty Management Theory] provides several possible explanations for the

unpleasant) information about them. (p. 137)

Owen, & Gerber, 2016, 11)

to ultimately connect people socially.

Gendered Communication Styles

successfully assertive in their communication styles by initiating conversations and maintaining

Lee produces data on gendered communication, by studying participants interpretations

stereotypical gender-specific communication styles. The article also discusses conformity to

to be more assertive in an online conversation by adding the influence of interpersonal

language (Lawson & Leck, 2006).

The Creation of Bumble

dating app and has feminist undertones,

first attempt at a feminist-dating app. (Yashari)

interpersonal communication as a result of the Bumble app requiring women to start

traditional gender communication styles?

the digital age.

for Female A, Male A, etc.

The participant FA expressed a lot of discomfort having to begin a conversation on

the first text says a lot, unless its hey.

communication style as being extremely passive. Interestingly, participant FB considers herself a

power as opposed to the power when initiating the conversation,

the first move.

having just written a ten-page paper about the topic,

Basically, I feel, that in cross-sex communication, males dominate the conversation []

different things like to assert a position of dominance in a conversation or to um attract

This knowledge of social influences on communication allowed participant FC to identify these

appeared to be rare among the other participants.

approached refused to participate in an interview, I perceived this to be a result of being shy.

gender expectation which participant MA identified. Although he identified himself as very

Although participant MA did not express extreme discomfort in starting a conversation, he

or forthright qualities in a partner. Furthermore, participant MA felt that Bumble had an

benefits society and posses an abundance of opportunities.

Interviewee MB, also identified himself as being a passive communicator. He referred to

how he doesnt like to force a conversation between him and a woman,

that he wanted to experience that situation. He displays an eagerness and willingness to

communication in confidence when talking or starting conversations with women. Noticeably,

assertion in conversation when dating.

emotionally invested in relationships and want to form more of an emotional attachment

not here for a hookup.

fun to have a conversation with or something like that.

choose the guys they respond to.

their confidence in what theyre saying.

than just starting conversations, To be impressed whenever [a woman] initiates a conversation I