Acknowledging the importance of technology in the mental health and wellbeing of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper aims to analyse the uses of mobile health applications by young Portuguese adults focusing on the following research question: How do the uses of m-apps by young adults interact with health and wellbeing from a gender perspective? An online survey was conducted to a representative sample of young Portuguese adults (18–30 years), under the objectives of the MyGender project that studies the interconnections of young adults with m-apps, with their technicity and imaginaries. The approach followed in this paper is quantitative-extensive. Results reveal low usage of overall health and wellbeing apps, particularly among single respondents who do not have children. Health and self-tracking apps are among the 10 most frequently used apps. Only 6.20% of the sample considers mental health apps (mHapps) as one of the three most important types of apps. Having children is a factor for a bigger interconnectedness of the respondents with overall health and wellbeing apps and the general quality of care.

In the dynamic landscape of online interactions, this article explores the use of digital diaries to unravel the intricacy of Portugal young adults’ experiences within the realm of apps and their connection to gender dynamics. By designing a digital participatory research method, we were able to reflect on the participants’ experiences in maintaining the requested diaries, scrutinize the major themes in the narratives generated through this approach, and examine how participants interacted with the prompts sent to them. Therefore, we delved into how participants both challenged and (re)negotiated these solicitations and how their agency led to an untapped reservoir of insights for the project in ways that went beyond words. There were visual and non-verbal elements that brought insights into young adults’ interactions with mobile applications, offering a comprehensive exploration of four key themes: mobile apps as part of young adults’ routines, between performance and authenticity, making the diaries their own, and elaborating on feelings. We also explored diary methods at the convergence of various disciplines and their high potential for contributing to topics related to gender, mental health, productivity, relationships, online identity management, apps in everyday life, intimacy, and more in creative ways.

The main purpose of this article is to analyse how healthcare providers in Portugal perceive asexuality. To do so, the author makes use of qualitative data from both the CILIA LGBTQI+ Lives project and The Asexual Revolution doctoral research on asexuality in Portugal, namely, a focus group conducted with healthcare providers, drawing from their assessment of interview excerpts with people identifying as asexual. The data were explored according to thematic analysis and revealed three major tendencies: (1) old tropes at the doctor’s office; (2) narratives of willingness to learn about the subject; and (3) constructive and encouraging views of asexuality. From this analysis, valuable lessons can be drawn concerning the respect for gender and sexual diversity. The author argues that both formal and informal learning play an important role in building cultural competence among healthcare providers. This could be achieved both by introducing sexual and gender diversity in curricula in HE and through media exposure on these subjects. Overall, it will lead to building knowledge and empathy about marginalised groups, and will help fight inequalities of LGBTQI+ people in healthcare. As such, LGTBQI+ activism that puts the topics of asexuality and LGBTQI+ in the media agenda, is a powerful strategy. Hence, because healthcare providers show willingness to learn, the media becomes a source for learning about asexual and LGTBQI+ experiences, which they can incorporate in their medical practice.

This article presents the result of a multimodal analysis of the representation of asexuality in Portuguese mainstream media. In Portugal, the media played a pivotal role in the relationship between the newly formed Portuguese asexual community and the wider audience. Media attention on asexuality in Portugal generated a discussion on how asexual people are represented, but also on social representations of sexual diversity in general. As a result, the Portuguese asexual community and LGBTQI+ movement were impelled to reflect on their activity and on the public image they wanted to send out. Therefore, the community had to make choices: which media to participate in; who participates; whose faces the message is associated to; to what extent the allies are to be taken into consideration; which types of discourses get privileged, and which become excluded. Amongst other public effects, the Portuguese LGBTQI+ movement started to acknowledge asexuality in documents produced by them. The corpus of materials on the subject grew, and asexuality left a significant footprint. The major tendency points towards a positive portrayal of asexuality that puts asexual people centre stage, owning narratives about themselves.

This article explores the political aesthetics of Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You , a series that challenges dominant narratives surrounding consent, sexual violence, and trauma through fragmented storytelling and intersectional representation. This analysis, grounded in feminist media studies, examines how the show disrupts racial and patriarchal tropes and redefines agency by addressing the complexities of consent and empowerment. I May Destroy You sheds light on the intricate intersections of race, gender, and sexuality through the experiences of its three main characters: Arabella, Kwame, and Terry. Coel’s inventive approach, employing nonlinear storytelling, surrealist elements, and vivid aesthetics, enriches the conversation around consent, redefining it as a dynamic and context-dependent concept. By blending critical analysis with cultural commentary, this study reveals the transformative potential of audiovisual fiction to foster empathy, challenge societal norms, and inspire feminist activism.