The 'Perfect' Teacher: Discursive Formations of #teachersofinstagram

As social media use has risen, teachers have also taken up the medium in specific ways. This study investigates the ways in which teachers are using Instagram, particularly at a moment in time during a global pandemic, when teachers are both more isolated and dealing with multiple modes of instruction, many that involve some new use of instructional technology. Top posts made by teachers using the hashtag #teachersofinstagram are categorized and analyzed using a feminist critical discourse analysis through a visual methodology. Findings indicate that the top posts on #teachersofinstragram portray teachers as heteronormative White females with a focus on sharing the positive aesthetics of the teacher, her classroom, and her life, but that teachers are also experiencing stress and resilience as they connect with other teachers on this platform.