The upcoming issue of Vogue Hommes Japan has incited quite a stir in the blogosphere. In June, the prominent fashion magazine announced that new male model Jo Calderone-- a self-proclaimed muscle car fanatic with a classic look-- would be featured on the cover. Amidst speculation and scandal, however, the brooding brunette was revealed to be none other than the pop star Lady Gaga.

While the singer’s embrace of gender bending has been met positively by several of her fans and media forums, others have not celebrated her newfound expression. Comments range from the “appropriateness” of her gendered presentation to rumors that she is a closeted hermaphrodite.  Gaga’s very public presentation of masculinity clearly tells us one thing: gender play is unsettling—even offensive—to mainstream media outlets. The idea that a pop starlet such as Gaga would experiment with a gender other than a hyper-sexualized femininity is quickly labeled as a “publicity stunt,” ultimately omitting the desires and intent of the singer.

So, what is it about Gaga’s gender reversal that incites so much anger? Annie Lennox from the Eurythmics mixed both the feminine and masculine in performance.

The Girl Scout’s Research Institute recently released Who’s that Girl?, a new study about girls and social media. I am thrilled that more research is focused on the experiences of young girls online, especially since this population is often overlooked within technology studies. Here are some highlights from the study. The sample consisted of over 1000 girls aged 14-17:

-Within online venues, girls often describe themselves as funny, fun, and social. However, there is disconnect between their online and offline personalities. Girls often downplay their intelligence, confidence and kindness online.

-Girls with low self-esteem are more likely than girls with high self-esteem to construct a “sexy” and “crazy” persona within online settings such as social networking sites.

-68% of girls have encountered a negative experience within social networking sites. Bullying, name-calling, and gossip were common negative experiences.