How inclusive is inclusive: public perceptions of gender stereotypes on dating applications 

Gender stereotypes are inaccurate or oversimplified beliefs and perceptions about characteristics of people based on their genders rather than individualized expressions. Dating applications is an important social setting where different genders and sexualities interact to establish intimacies and relationships. Gender stereotype carried by the design could cause multiple negative consequences in app user’s health and well-being. The negative influences are not limited to app users but also companies that develop and operate the apps. Taken together, the lack of this knowledge might undermine the inclusion in Dutch society and the achievement towards European sustainability goals-improving gender equality and sustainable cities and communities.
This project aims to examine how app users perceive gender stereotypes on dating apps. Specially, this project aims to answer (1) how app users in diverse genders and sexualities perceive gender stereotypes on dating app; (2) What factors shape different attitudes; (3) What could the alternative ways for app functions that carry gender stereotypes when matchmaking.
The research output includes media articles that provide user’s value-informed guidance for organizations, podcasts that raise public awareness on gender stereotypes, and scientific publications that might attract more scientific attention on this issue.