Abstract:
Based on prior research, inferences can be made regarding individuals with non-achieved
ethnic identity statuses, as well as individuals experiencing high levels of appropriated racial
oppression, engaging in higher self-monitoring of aspects of their ethnic identities. Links have
also been demonstrated between online dating and engagement in self-monitoring. The purpose
of this study was to examine a model for how individuals present themselves on ethnicityspecific and non-ethnicity-specific online dating platforms and how this self-presentation is
impacted by one’s ethnic identity, self-monitoring, and appropriated racial oppression. Three
hundred and nineteen participants were surveyed and data were analyzed using path analysis.
The models tested were found to be poor fits for the data; however, ethnic identity was found to
be positively related to self-monitoring as well as ethnicity-specific and non-ethnicity-specific
platform self-presentation. Further, ethnic identity was negatively related to appropriated racial
oppression. Ethnicity-specific platform self-presentation was negatively related to appropriated
racial oppression and positively related to non-ethnicity-specific platform self-presentation and
self-monitoring. Self-monitoring in online dating was found to be positively related to
appropriated racial oppression. Implications for theory, practice, and research are discussed.
