Gender distinction is very prevalent in online support groups especially in DailyStrength. A woman is characterized as being the caregiver and go to person when it comes to others having problems or in sickness. DailyStrength is a site that provides the same heartwarming, comfort zone that those in need look for in women. When browsing through the site, I looked out for hints that were very gendered and what I found was that this site is targeted towards women. DailyStrength.com itself takes the gender and role of a woman. What is supposed to be a neutral site where anyone regardless of gender can find a nest is actually very gendered.
Looking through all the users, the majority of the users are females because their profile picture includes images that are feminine through the use of colors such as pink and purple. Also, actual portrait pictures of women are used or those who don’t have any profile pictures, their username is a dead giveaway of the gender of the user. The logo banner used also include pictures of women of diverse backgrounds not a single male figure is part of the group. Another attribute and function in DailyStrength that is very gendered is the ability to “hug” users. Hugs are a way to demonstrate care and comfort. When one decides to hug a user, you are providing them with support and letting them know that you are there. Looking at the top huggers which is a list provided on the support group page, the top users who have hugged numerous users are female. Another feminine attribute is the ability to not only give hugs, but also to give flowers to people. That’s another gendered symbol. Flowers are typically given to women as a form of care, support, and love. Even the icon for flowers is very feminine.