Women Studies

Women Studies

Gender Analysis of Fears and Hopes of Students in the Context of Social Media

Document Type : -

Authors
Fataneh Bidar Aghjehkandi 1
Aliakbar Farhangi 2
Afsaneh Mozaffari 3
seyed jamaledin Tabibi 4
1 Ph.D. Candidate of Media Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor of management and Communication Sciences, Faculty of Management, Tehran University,Tehran,Iran
3 Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Epistemology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 Professor of Department of Health Services Management and Health Economics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.30465/ws.2025.51976.4408
Abstract
This research uses grounded theory to explore and analyze gender differences in students'''' fears and hopes within social media contexts. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 14 female and 15 male students from universities in Tehran, and analyzed using three stages of coding: open, axial, and selective. Findings revealed that the outcomes of students'''' interactions and strategies in response to environmental conditions have two aspects: conscious use of social media and focus on personal goals strengthen hope, resilience, and personal growth; however, exposure to negative content and exaggerated representations of others'''' lives, alongside experiences such as discrimination and inequality in opportunity distribution, lead to increased anxiety and decreased social hope. The core category of this study is "The Dynamics of Students'''' Social Hope in Interaction with Social Media," which connects the main and subcategories while considering gender differences. To strengthen social hope, gender-oriented strategies are recommended: supportive policies tailored to gender needs, gender-oriented media literacy education, support for content production aligned with concerns of young women and men, diverse spirituality-oriented programs, and strengthening different coping skills for female and male students. These can contribute to the formation of a hopeful, empowered, and resilient generation.
Keywords
Social hope
fears
social media
hope-generating media
students
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  • Receive Date 16 May 2025
  • Revise Date 05 September 2025
  • Accept Date 26 September 2025