Gendered Pixels: Exploring Gender Differences in Computer-Mediated Self-Presentation among Douyu Live Streamers

Mengxiao Zhu, Xiyue Wang, Chunke Su, Han Zhao, Cuihua Shen

Live streaming platforms, as computer-mediated communication (CMC) systems, provide streamers with a range of tools, such as webcams, beauty filters, and stream titles, to shape their online personas in ways that either conform to or deviate from viewers' expectations. Drawing on gender role and CMC theories, this study examines how streamers leverage CMC self-presentation tools to fulfill gender role expectations and their associated live streaming outcomes. Analyzing data collected from 867 streamers and 94,227 streams on Douyu, a popular Chinese live streaming platform, we find that although both female and male streamers make extensive use of CMC tools, female streamers are more likely to employ visual strategies, such as webcams and beauty filters, than male streamers. We further find that although different tools have varying associations on streamers' earnings and audience engagement, the benefits of webcam use are weaker for female than for male streamers. These findings underscore the complex interplay between gender roles and technology use in the live streaming domain.