Positive Positive representations of representations of

teenage girlsteenage girls

Post FeminismPost Feminism

Back lash to feminism in reaction to Back lash to feminism in reaction to second wave feminism, and which second wave feminism, and which attempted to redefine the women's attempted to redefine the women's movement. Post Feminism endorses movement. Post Feminism endorses consumerism and the idea of consumerism and the idea of powerful women who no longer need powerful women who no longer need movements or collective actions to movements or collective actions to establish rights or equality.establish rights or equality.

Contemporary MagazinesContemporary Magazines More women work for teenage girl magazines.More women work for teenage girl magazines. Mythical image presented to the reader, one of femininity Mythical image presented to the reader, one of femininity

and pleasure.and pleasure. Provide entertainment, and expectations about being a Provide entertainment, and expectations about being a woman.woman.They represent luxury and pleasureThey represent luxury and pleasureFor yourself. (different from JACKIE)For yourself. (different from JACKIE)Empower girls – represented asEmpower girls – represented as Predators‘ – boys are the prey.Predators‘ – boys are the prey.Quotes: ‘Increase your powers ofQuotes: ‘Increase your powers of seduction’seduction’‘‘Sex tactics no man can resist’.Sex tactics no man can resist’.Girls are represented as the dominant gender.Girls are represented as the dominant gender.

Curran 1996Curran 1996

It provides the frame work for It provides the frame work for women’s magazines inwomen’s magazines in

the 1990’s and marksthe 1990’s and marks

a new movement ina new movement in

the construction of the construction of

female sexual identities female sexual identities

RperesentationRperesentation

Girls are consumers – lots of clothes Girls are consumers – lots of clothes and makeup are advertised in these and makeup are advertised in these magazines. There role in the magazines. There role in the magazines are of consumers.magazines are of consumers.

A countertype representation to the A countertype representation to the historical representations.historical representations.

TheoryTheory McRobbie – girls are in a privileged McRobbie – girls are in a privileged

position as opposed to usual subservient position as opposed to usual subservient roles developed in the media. Magazines roles developed in the media. Magazines that show young women in lead roles that show young women in lead roles provide positive and enabling provide positive and enabling representations.representations.

Tessa Perkins – Not all stereotypes are Tessa Perkins – Not all stereotypes are negative.negative.

Realism theory – verisimitudeRealism theory – verisimitude De Fleur – Social Value (society has De Fleur – Social Value (society has

changed and teenage girls are more changed and teenage girls are more dominant than they used to be).dominant than they used to be).

BignallBignall

‘‘while the cover image is for women while the cover image is for women to look at, it is constructed with to look at, it is constructed with reference to a wider social code in reference to a wider social code in which feminine means taking which feminine means taking pleasure in looking at ones self, and pleasure in looking at ones self, and taking pleasure in being looked at by taking pleasure in being looked at by men’.men’.

(A post feminist view point)(A post feminist view point)