Christopher Dietzel

Christopher Dietzel
Contact Information
Email address: 
christopher.dietzel [at] mcgill.ca
Biography: 

Christopher Dietzel, Ph.D. (he/him) is a postdoctoral fellow whose work explores the intersections of gender, sexuality, health, safety, and technology. Dr. Dietzel works with the iMPACTS Project, the Digital Intimacy, Gender, and Sexualities (DIGS) Lab, and the Sexual Health and Gender (SHaG) Lab, and he is a co-investigator on Digitally Informed Youth (DIY) Digital Safety. Dr. Dietzel's recent projects focus on LGBTQ+ people's experiences with dating apps and social media, and he investigates the barriers, harms, and violence that people face when using these digital platforms.

Dr. Dietzel's work has been published in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Indonesian. Dr. Dietzel est francophone et il sera content de vous parler en français. christopher.dietzel [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Interview%20request) (Click here to contact Dr. Dietzel / cliquez ici pour contacter Dr. Dietzel.)

Research ExperienceProfessional Experience
Academic Publications | Public ReportsEditorial Work | Scholarly Presentations

Media & Interviews | Consultations & Community Work | Panels & Workshops

 


Research Experience

Dr. Dietzel works with iMPACTS: Collaborations to Address Sexual Violence on Campus, which aims to address sexual violence on university campuses across Canada and internationally. Dr. Dietzel is part of the Digital Intimacy, Gender, and Sexualities (DIGS) Lab, which aims to understand how digital media, digital technologies, and digital cultures are shaping intimate relationships, gender, and sexuality. Dr. Dietzel also conducts research with the Sexual Health and Gender (SHaG) Lab, which examines health issues among people of diverse genders and sexualities. Dr. Dietzel is a co-investigator on Digitally Informed Youth (DIY): Digital Safety, which investigates young people's experiences with technology-facilitated sexual violence and aims to develop resources that promote digital safety among youth. 

Dr. Dietzel earned his PhD from McGill University. His dissertation, Sexual violence facilitated by dating apps: The experiences of men who have sex with men, investigated sexual violence that gay and queer men experience via dating apps. 

Dr. Dietzel was selected as the 2022–2023 Visiting Scholar in Sexuality Studies in the Centre for Feminist Research at York University. In 2020–2021, Dr. Dietzel worked on a collaborative project that investigated how dating app companies responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, Dr. Dietzel was awarded a Mitacs Research Fellowship to work as a visiting scholar at Swinburne University of Technology and conduct research on a grant about Safety, Risk & Wellbeing on Dating Apps.

 


Professional Experience

Dr. Dietzel has taught undergraduate and graduate students, including in the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University in Canada, the Department of Integrated Studies in Education at McGill University in Canada, and the Faculty of Medicine at l'Université de Montpellier in France.

Dr. Dietzel also worked in student affairs/student services, including at McGill University's Campus Life & Engagement (CL&E) and in the Office of New Student Programs at the University of Michigan. While in Singapore, Dr. Dietzel facilitated the Leadership Exploration And Development (LEAD) Program, an international, cross-cultural leadership development program for students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).

 


Select Publications

Dietzel, C. (2024). Clickable consent: How men who have sex with men understand and practice sexual consent on dating apps and in person. The Journal of Sex Research, 61(3), 481–494.

Duguay, S., Dietzel, C., & Myles, D. (2024). The year of the “virtual date”: Reimagining dating app affordances during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Media & Society, 26(3), 1384–1402.

Dietzel, C., Bello, B., Matchett, B., Cullum, J., & Numer, M. (2023). Mental health of LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review. Advances in Mental Health.

Sanabria, S., & Dietzel, C. (2023). “I can be sued for that?”: When university community members are sued for defamation in response to allegations of sexual violence. Education & Law Journal, 32(2), 151–184.

Dietzel, C. (2023). Exploring connections between sexual violence and dating apps: A focus on the experiences of men who have sex with men. In S. Shariff & C. Dietzel (Eds.), Interrupting sexual violence: The power of law, education, and media (pp. 219–239). Peter Lang.

Shariff, S., Dietzel, C., Macaulay, K., & Sanabria, S. (2023). Misogyny in the metaverse: Leveraging policy and education to address technology-facilitated violence. In H. Cowie & C. A. Myers (Eds.), Cyberbullying and online harms: Preventions and interventions from community to campus (pp. 103–116). Routledge.

Dietzel, C. (2022). “I'm not your fantasy”: Sexual racism, racial fetishization, and the exploitation of racialized men who have sex with men. In J. J. Fellows & L. Smith (Eds.), Gender, sex, and tech! An intersectional feminist guide (pp. 101–120). Canadian Scholars/Women’s Press.

Dietzel, C. (2022). The three dimensions of unsolicited dick pics: Sexual minority men’s experiences of sending and receiving unsolicited dick pics on dating apps. Sexuality & Culture, 26, 834–852.

Myles, D., Duguay, S., & Dietzel, C. (2021). #DatingWhileDistancing: Dating apps as digital health technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In D. Lupton & K. Willis (Eds.), The COVID-19 crisis: Social perspectives (pp. 79-89). Routledge.

Dietzel, C. (2021). “That’s straight-up rape culture”: Manifestations of rape culture on Grindr. In J. Bailey, A. Flynn, & N. Henry (Eds.), The Emerald international handbook of technology-facilitated violence and abuse (pp. 351-368). Emerald.

Albury, K., Dietzel, C., Pym, T., Vivienne, S., & Cook, T. (2021). Not your unicorn: Trans dating app users’ negotiations of personal safety and sexual health. Health Sociology Review, 30(1), 72–86.

Namaste, V., Gaspar, M., Lavoie, S., McClelland, A., Sims, E., Tigchelaar, A., Dietzel, C., & Drummond, J. D. (2021). Willed ambiguity: An exploratory study of sexual misconduct affecting sexual minority male university students in Canada. Sexualities, 24(8), 1041–1060.

 


Select Public Reports

Dietzel, C., Kalwani, N., Samardzic, T., Dodge, A., Dunn, S., & Mendes, K. (2023). Technology-facilitated sexual violence in Canadian educational curricula, policies, and legislation. Digitally Informed Youth (DIY): Digital Safety and the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN).

Jonsson, S., Tesolin, A., Verhaeghe, A.V., Dietzel, C., Al Ameri, R., & Stuebing, D.L. (2023). The internet isn’t all rainbows: Exposing and mitigating online queerphobic hate against 2SLGBTQ+ organizations. The Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network.

Morrison, J., & Dietzel, C. (2023). Unpacking the narrative: An analysis of media guides about responsible reporting on sexual violence. McGill University.

Dodge, A., Dietzel, C., Dunn, S., Mendes, K., & MacCallum, H. (2023). Technology-facilitated gender-based violence among young people: Synthesizing the research to promote digital safety in Canada. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE).

Numer, M., Holmes, D., Dietzel C., Crawford, Z., Hammond, C., & Hammond, B. (2023). Wired Sex: Community report. Dalhousie University.

Albury, K., Byron, P., McCosker, A., Pym, T., Walshe, J., Race, K., Salon, D., Reeders, D., Wark, T., Botfield, J., & Dietzel, C. (2019). Safety, risk and wellbeing on dating apps: Final report. Swinburne University of Technology.

 


Select Editorial Work

Dietzel, C., & Towfigh, K. (Eds.) (2024). Pandemic injustice: Navigating legal and policy lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Peter Lang.

Shariff, S. & Dietzel, C. (Eds.) (2023). Interrupting sexual violence: The power of law, education, and media. Peter Lang.

Shariff, S., Dietzel, C., & Towfigh, K. (Eds.). (2020). Sexual violence: Impacts on and implications for the intersections of law and education. [Special Issue.] Education & Law Journal, 29(2).

Shariff, S., Dietzel, C., & Jaswal, N. (Eds.). (2017). Navigating the minefield: Responding to legal and educational dilemmas in addressing sexual violence in universities. [Special Issue.] Education & Law Journal, 27(1).

 


Select Presentations

Dietzel, C., Samardzic, T., Mendes, K., Dodge, A., & Dunn, S. (2023, May 29–June 2). Technology-facilitated sexual violence: Education and policy responses from Canada’s provinces and territories. Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) Conference, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Mendes, K., Dietzel, C., Dodge, A., & Dunn, S. (2023, May 29–June 2). DIY - Digital Safety: Supporting young people in schools, social relationships and on social media. Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) Conference, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Dietzel, C., & Numer, M. (2023, May 28). Coping with COVID: The mental health of LGBTQ+ people during the pandemic. International Communication Association (ICA) Conference, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Yurkovich, C., Matchett, B., Webber, V., Dietzel, C., & Numer, M. (2023, May 17). 404 Not Found: The health and safety of men/transmasc folks doing Internet-mediated sex work. Sexy Messy: A Digital Sexual Cultures Virtual Symposium, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Dietzel, C. (2023, May 8). Les méthodes numériques et participatives : Comment impliquer les parties prenantes dans les processus de la recherche. Le Congrès de l’ACFAS, Montréal, QC, Canada.

Dietzel, C., Bamidele, B., Matchett, B., Cullum, J., & Numer, M. (2023, March 10–11). Queering digital connections: Exploring the impacts of technology and the COVID-19 pandemic on older 2SLBGTQ+ adults. Crossroads Interdisciplinary Health Research Conference, Halifax, NS, Canada.

Numer, M., & Dietzel, C. (2022, May 31 – June 1). Dating/hookup apps as digital health technologies: Tensions around gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men’s health and safety. Digital Health Communication: Issues and Perspectives (ICA Post-Conference), Dijon, France.

Numer, M., & Dietzel, C. (2022, May 26–30). Sex, drugs, and the internet: An investigation into how health promotion service providers frame wired sex assemblages among men who have sex with men. International Communication Association (ICA) Annual Conference, Paris, France.

Dietzel, C. (2022, May 16–20). “Be Fit. Be White. Be…”: Sexual racism and issues of consent among queer men dating app users. Canadian Sociological Association, online conference.

Dietzel, C. (2021, November 18–21). The three dimensions of unsolicited dick pics: The experiences of men who have sex with men on dating apps. The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) Annual Conference, hybrid conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Dietzel, C., Numer, M., & Joy, P. (2021, October 28–29). The practices and perils of sex, drugs, and online technologies: Exploring the experiences of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) Summit 2021, online.

Dietzel, C. & Numer, M. (2021, September 2-3). How to keep LGBTQ+ people safe on dating apps. Eleventh International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society, Sorbonne Université/online, Paris, France.

Dietzel, C. & Duguay, S. (2020, December 2). Dating and hook-up apps, digital publics, and the COVID-19 pandemic: Participatory engagement with app materials and affect. Digital Intimacies 6.0, online/in-person conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

McCosker, A., Albury, K., Maddox, A., Barrett, M., & Dietzel, C. (2020, October 27-31). Digital cultures of care, safety and wellbeing. Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR), online.

Dietzel, C., Myles, D., & Duguay, S. (2020, September 30-October 2). United in queerantine: Sex, safety, and solidarities on queer dating hookup during the COVID-19 pandemic. Futures of Feminist and Queer Solidarities, online.

Dietzel, C. (2019, December 9-11). Transgender and gender non-binary people’s experiences with intimacy while dating. Digital Intimacies 5.0, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Dietzel, C. (2019, September 1-4). Rape culture on dating apps designed for men who have sex with men. European Conference on Domestic Violence, Oslo, Norway.

Dietzel, C. (2019, February 7-9). Non-consensual sexual conduct on queer dating apps: Examining tensions experienced by men who have sex with men. Sites Queer, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Dietzel, C. (2018, August 9-10). Sexual violence in LGBTQ+ communities and rape culture on dating apps. American Sociological Association (ASA) Sexualities Pre-Conference, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Dietzel, C. (2018, January 24-26). Safer social connections among dating app users. iDate Online Dating and Dating Industry Conference, Miami, FL, United States.

Dietzel, C. (2018, January 21). Insta-Gratification: What does a healthy relationship with social media look like? Students in Mind: Mental Health Conference, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Dietzel, C. (2017, August 15-17). An overview of LGBTQ rape culture and sexual violence among gay-identified males. National Conference on LGBTTIQ2AS Human Rights, Montreal, QC, Canada.

 


Media & Interviews

Dr. Dietzel's research revolves around technology, safety, and health, and he is an expert in social media and dating apps. Dr. Dietzel's research focuses on LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized populations, and he can speak about a range of topics, including online dating, consent, sexual violence, physical safety, and mental health.

Dr. Dietzel has done live and recorded interviews for TV, radio, and podcasts, and his work has been published in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Indonesian. Dr. Dietzel est francophone et il sera content de passer une entrevue en français.

Here are some news/media organizations that have interviewed Dr. Dietzel: 

  • The Atlantic
  • CBC Radio
  • CTV News
  • Radio Canada
  • CityNews
  • Metro World News
  • The Canadian Press
  • TVA 
  • Le Devoir
  • Future of Good

christopher.dietzel [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Interview%20request) (Click here to contact Dr. Dietzel / cliquez ici pour contacter Dr. Dietzel.)

 


Consultations & Community Work

Dr. Dietzel has developed policies and consulted organizations about apps, safety, consent, and other topics. Dr. Dietzel enjoys partnering with businesses and community groups to provide tailored information that fits the needs of local and international populations. 

Here are some organizations that Dr. Dietzel has worked with:

  • Meta / Facebook Canada
  • Toronto Triggerfish Water Polo Club
  • Centre communautaire LGBTQ+ de Montréal
  • RÉZO, santé et mieux-être des hommes gais et bisexuels, cis et trans
  • AIDS Community Care Montréal (ACCM)
  • Sexual Assault Resource Centre at Concordia University
  • Office of Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education at McGill University

christopher.dietzel [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Interview%20request) (Click here to contact Dr. Dietzel / cliquez ici pour contacter Dr. Dietzel.)

 


Workshops & Panels

Dr. Dietzel has a background in education, and he enjoys sharing his expertise with diverse populations. Dr. Dietzel has designed curricula and facilitated workshops in both French and English for people of all ages. Dr. Dietzel has also spoken on panels about a variety of topics, including safety, consent, mental health, discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and online dating. 

Here are some organizations that Dr. Dietzel has worked with: 

  • Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations
  • Meridan ACT 
  • Pride at Work Canada
  • 2U Inc.
  • Nova Scotia Barristers' Society
  • Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network (ODLAN)
  • Village Montréal
  • RÉZO, santé et mieux-être des hommes gais et bisexuels, cis et trans
  • Halifax Support Group for 2SLGBTQ+ Immigrants
  • Simon Fraser University
  • McGill University
  • Concordia University
  • York University
  • University of Ottawa
  • University of King's College
  • Centennial College
  • Mohawk College

christopher.dietzel [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Interview%20request) (Click here to contact Dr. Dietzel / cliquez ici pour contacter Dr. Dietzel.)

 


 

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