The power of technology: a qualitative analysis of how South Asian youth use technology to maintain cross-gender relationships

Abstract

This research explores how South Asian youth in Canada use computer-mediated communication (CMC) such as social networking sites, cell phones and instant messaging in their cross-gender intimate relationships. Using 42 qualitative interviews conducted with second-generation South Asian Canadians living in the Greater Toronto Area and Durham region, this article sheds light on the motives for using CMC as well as negative consequences that can emerge. The data reveal that South Asian youth are using CMC to initiate and build relationships, remain connected with partners, engage in discreet communication, to ease uncomfortable and intimate discussions, and to communicate when face-to-face interaction is not available. Gender, religion and country of origin differences were rare, but did appear in a few motives. Negative consequences of CMC use volunteered by participants include parental-child conflict over restriction and questioning CMC use and its use leading to parents' discovery of a 'secret' relationship. Overall, CMC provided a means for second-generation South Asian youth in Canada to overtly adhere to norms of gender-separation while covertly engaging in crossgender relationships. If not discovered, this helped to maintain family honour within the South Asian community while fulfilling their perceived need for crossgender friendships and romantic involvements. IntroductionThis is the age of the technological revolution. These days the power of technology is felt and seen in most aspects of social life today. For most individuals, its use has become second nature (Bargh and McKenna 2004) and somewhat habit forming. Individuals today use technology, specifically computer-mediated communication (CMC), in their personal lives for the purposes of communication, information, formation and maintenance of relationships, and solely entertainment. Historically, prior to the telephone, connecting to loved ones was a daunting task that entailed written cards or letters that eventually required paying a visit to the nearest post office (Ramirez and Broneck 2009). Today, however, CMC has facilitated the social exchange process for relational partners and interpersonal communication in more ways than one (McKenna and Bargh 1999). A variety of Internet, email and instant messaging (IM)