Nora Loffredo | 2025 I.S Symposium

Name: Nora Loffredo
Title: Shipping, Self and Sexuality: Queer Identity in the World of Fanfiction
Major: Anthropology
Advisors: Michael Miyawaki

The relationship between fanfiction, fandom, and the queer people that they attract has long been studied. One part of this has been the study of the effects of fanfiction on queer people, especially, but not limited to, young people. Due to long personal experience, curiosity and interest in the different experiences of others in the community, and a genuine love and fascination with this topic, this study has examined that relationship in detail. This research looks to examine that relationship in detail, through the following questions: What is the relationship between fanfiction and queer identity formation? To what extent does fanfiction shape the queer identity of the fans? How might their queer identity inform the kind of fanfiction that they engage with? This project addressed these questions in detail, beginning with a review of the literature on this topic (split up into two sections: one on queer identity formation, and the other on queer self-advocacy and activism). Next, there is a thorough overview of the theoretical frameworks used throughout this study, and then, a chapter reviewing the methodology employed during the data-gathering process. Finally, the study is concluded with a detailed examination of the major findings, and a brief review of ways that it could be expanded upon for further research.

This includes, but is not limited to: working with a broader range of people across several categories (age/class/gender/sexuality/etc.), conducting shorter interviews with more in-depth questions, a survey of my participants, and, in general, looking for more quantitative data.

This has been an incredibly rewarding project to work on over the past year, and I am so grateful to everyone who helped me through this process. I’m really excited to see where it leads me!

Posted in Symposium 2025 on May 1, 2025.