We Are Camily
We Are Camily
Community, Social Capital, and the Problem of Exclusion
A vibrant community of webcam performers has developed in tandem with the camming industry. The “camily,” as many performers refer to it, is a loosely tied network of performers who provide one another with various forms of support and friendship. Cam models use web forums, social media, and conferences and events to interact with one another in a loosely structured social network that has been designed by cam performers for cam performers. Those who find community can build social capital and acquire benefits as a result. Models’ degrees of embeddedness in the camily influence their ability to mobilize social capital within the camming industry. This chapter also examines exclusionary practices within the community. Community norms and powerful gatekeepers restrict access to social capital. The boundaries some camgirls create exclude trans women, cis men, and low-wage part-time performers, who are disproportionally people of color and non-English-speaking people. This systematic exclusion from the community can adversely affect economic outcomes.
Keywords: community, social capital, exclusion
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