Streaming Authenticity: Emotional Labour and Dramaturgical Stress of Women in the Italian Gaming Community on Twitch

Twitch is a live-streaming platform that offers opportunities for monetization such as subscriptions and donations: monetary exchanges are framed as a way to support streamers’ work, show appreciation and gain access to the ‘inner circle’ of subscribers. Making money requires establishing and nurturing relationships with the audience, and negotiating with their expectations. For women, positioning oneself within the platform also implies coping with the sexist expectations embedded in the masculine culture of the gaming community. Previous research on the female presence on Twitch has focused on sexual objectification and harassment, on the role of policies in regulating acceptable expressions of femininity and sexuality, and on the discourses surrounding the female body. Through 14 interviews with Italian streamers and ethnographic observation of their channels, our research explores the different facets of authenticity in live streaming. Expanding on the Goffmanian front stage/backstage dichotomy, we introduce the concept of “in live self”, which blurs the lines between the intimate self and the character/role streamers play for their audience, and also requires a complex management of emotions in order to be sustained. Our data shows how emotional labour and dramaturgical stress are central components of female streamers’ work, structured around three analytical levels: a) the body: self-presentation and performing femininity; b) relationship with the community: intimacy, entertainment and governing expectations; c) relationship with the platform: monetization and professionalization. Showing their authentic and vulnerable self within a relatively safe platform is the price female streamers pay to foster a positive culture and create inclusive communities.