Moral panics, sexuality and childhood: the manufacture of the “kit gay” as a political artifact in the 2018 presidential dispute from the social media Twitter

Abstract

Based on the analysis of the manufacturing and circulation of the materiality of the “kit gay” on the social media platform Twitter, in the context of the 2018 presidential elections, the article addresses the affective and political force of the discourse on protecting children against sexual dangers in the production of moral panic. It argues that by effectively articulating the anti-pedophilia and anti-gender crusades, the “kit gay,” understood as a political artifact and category of accusation, produced decisive effects in the contemporary Brazilian political arena.

Keywords:
childhood; sexuality; politics; moral panics; social networks.