New Femininities are understood to have emerged as the ideal neo liberal subjects of post-modernity. As exemplars of the new competitive meritocracy today’s young women are said to embody ambition, success and the agentic individualism required to prevail in insecure socioeconomic times. This dissertation examines contemporary notions of what it means to be young and female today by looking at the experiences of ten women in a Southern English town whose accounts provide an insightful commentary on social change and feminine subjectivity. Principally, this thesis is concerned with the discrepancy between representations of young womanhood in the public discourse and actual, lived femininities. Overall, it attempts to emphasise issues concerning contemporary feminine lifestyles with regards to mobility, consumerism and professional self-realisation, all in the light of feminist – and post-feminist theory.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1. Prologue: Theorizing girlhood as a transnational conversation
- 1.2. Methodology
- 1.3. Feasibility
- 1.4. Thesis
- 2. Setting
- 2.1. From Industrial Modernity to Late Modernity
- 2.2. The Concept of Place in Late Modernity
- 2.3. The Emergence of Post-feminism
- 3. A Transnational Case Study: Contemporary Representations of New Femininities in Bournemouth
- 3.1. Me, myself and I: Mobility, Individualism and Self-realisation in a Post-feminist Context
- 3.1.1. Mobility and the Self
- 3.1.2. Success, Ambition and Identity
- 3.2. Making the Right Choice: Young Women in the New Economy
- 3.2.1. Get Everything You Want: Young Femininities and Consumerism
- 3.2.2. Education and Career
- 3.1. Me, myself and I: Mobility, Individualism and Self-realisation in a Post-feminist Context
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This dissertation examines contemporary notions of young womanhood by exploring the experiences of ten women living in a Southern English town. Through their accounts, the dissertation offers insights into social change and feminine subjectivity. The main focus is on the discrepancies between public representations of young women and their lived realities. Overall, the work seeks to highlight issues surrounding contemporary feminine lifestyles, particularly in relation to mobility, consumerism, and professional self-realisation within the context of feminist and post-feminist theory. The key themes explored in the dissertation are:- New femininities and post-feminist perspectives
- Global mobility and its impact on young women's lives
- Consumer culture and its role in shaping young feminine identities
- Educational migration and its implications for women's career paths
- Women's employment conditions in the contemporary economy
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1 introduces the dissertation's framework, outlining the theoretical lens used to analyze young women's experiences. It also presents the methodology employed, the dissertation's feasibility, and the overall thesis statement. Chapter 2 delves into the social and cultural context of the research setting, examining the transition from industrial modernity to late modernity. The chapter also explores the concept of place in late modernity and the emergence of post-feminist thought.
Chapter 3 presents a transnational case study, examining contemporary representations of new femininities in Bournemouth through the perspectives of ten women. This chapter explores the intersections of mobility, individualism, and self-realisation in a post-feminist context. It also investigates the choices made by young women within the new economy, focusing on their engagement with consumer culture and their educational and career aspirations.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The dissertation's primary keywords and focus topics include new femininities, post-feminist theory, global mobility, consumer culture, educational migration, choice biography, meritocracy, and women's employment conditions. These terms encapsulate the core concepts and themes explored throughout the work, providing a framework for understanding the complex interplay of individual experiences and broader social forces shaping young women's lives in a contemporary context.- Quote paper
- Kathrin Marisa Leimig (Author), 2010, "Coming and Staying and Working and Stuff", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/166673
