Community and malleable identity in the furry fandom
| dc.contributor.author | Heidinger, Selina | |
| dc.contributor.examiningcommittee | Li, Fabiana (Anthropology) | |
| dc.contributor.examiningcommittee | MacKendrick, Kenneth (Religion) | |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Rosenoff Gauvin, Lara | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-03-20T19:43:58Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-03-20T19:43:58Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-03-17 | |
| dc.date.submitted | 2025-03-17T19:57:35Z | en_US |
| dc.degree.discipline | Anthropology | |
| dc.degree.level | Master of Arts (M.A.) | |
| dc.description.abstract | This thesis examines the social and personal aspects of identity creation in the furry fandom – a fandom centred around anthropomorphic characters. Based on data collected from 25 online interviews of furry community members, I learned that furries challenge and create social norms outside of the mainstream to find belonging within the furry fandom. The various furry spaces populated by members (e.g., furry-specific websites or conventions) encourage the safe exploration and assertion of identities that may be maligned in other spaces. The data is analyzed in two broad categories: external elements addressed in the sections on norms and belonging; and internal dynamics examined in the sections on fursona (anthropomorphic avatar) embodiment and identity. This thesis concludes that furries construct malleable identities through the creation and use of fursonas, and based on one interviewee’s assertion, fully explores the concept of identity as a form of collaborative fiction. | |
| dc.description.note | May 2025 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1993/38939 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.subject | Furry | |
| dc.subject | Identity | |
| dc.subject | Fandom | |
| dc.subject | Fursona | |
| dc.subject | Online Community | |
| dc.title | Community and malleable identity in the furry fandom | |
| local.subject.manitoba | no |