Global Concerns and Local Realities: Gender, Sexuality and Young People’s Digital Futures
摘要
In this concluding chapter, the insights garnered throughout the book are synthesised, returning to the pivotal questions of how young people express their sexuality through digital technologies and the gendered implications of these engagements. The chapter reflects on the nuanced narratives that young South Africans have shared, challenging the dominant portrayal of youth as mere victims in a landscape fraught with danger and anxiety. By emphasising their creativity and capacity for self-expression, the chapter highlights the complex interplay of digital technologies and socio-material contexts that shape young people’s sexual cultures. The chapter argues for the necessity of a post-digital sexual citizenship framework that acknowledges the entanglements of gender, race, and class within young people’s digital sexual practices. Furthermore, considering the evolving political and policy implications within the digital sexual economy, the chapter stresses the importance of working with young people as they make sense of their digital sexual journeys, advocating for a shift away from alarmist narratives towards a more informed and supportive approach to sexuality education. Finally, the chapter calls for collective effort to dismantle the patriarchal structures that restrict their autonomy and self-expression.