Individuality is everything: Autonomous femininity in MySpace mottos and self-descriptions
This article explores some popular constructions of young femininity on MySpace profiles through an examination of the affirmative or inspirational-style mottos and self-descriptions commonly posted on a sample of 45 public profiles maintained by Australian women aged between 18 and 21. In these tex...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Routledge
2012
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/66788 |
| _version_ | 1848761392809639936 |
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| author | Dobson, Amy |
| author_facet | Dobson, Amy |
| author_sort | Dobson, Amy |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This article explores some popular constructions of young femininity on MySpace profiles through an examination of the affirmative or inspirational-style mottos and self-descriptions commonly posted on a sample of 45 public profiles maintained by Australian women aged between 18 and 21. In these texts self-esteem, self-worth, and self-determination are expressed in markedly uncompromising tones. Such textual expressions, I argue, may indicate an internalization on the part of young women of neo-liberal discourses of individualization. At the same time, the mottos discussed also suggest that traits and characteristics besides sexiness are central to young women's online, socially moderated self-constructions. That is, the demonstration of a bold attitude and a fearless sense of autonomous self-definition also appear to be important aspects of feminine performativity on the profiles viewed, which is significant in light of recent panic around young women and sexualization. © 2012 Taylor & Francis. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:30:57Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-66788 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:30:57Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Routledge |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-667882018-05-18T08:04:22Z Individuality is everything: Autonomous femininity in MySpace mottos and self-descriptions Dobson, Amy This article explores some popular constructions of young femininity on MySpace profiles through an examination of the affirmative or inspirational-style mottos and self-descriptions commonly posted on a sample of 45 public profiles maintained by Australian women aged between 18 and 21. In these texts self-esteem, self-worth, and self-determination are expressed in markedly uncompromising tones. Such textual expressions, I argue, may indicate an internalization on the part of young women of neo-liberal discourses of individualization. At the same time, the mottos discussed also suggest that traits and characteristics besides sexiness are central to young women's online, socially moderated self-constructions. That is, the demonstration of a bold attitude and a fearless sense of autonomous self-definition also appear to be important aspects of feminine performativity on the profiles viewed, which is significant in light of recent panic around young women and sexualization. © 2012 Taylor & Francis. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/66788 10.1080/10304312.2012.665835 Routledge restricted |
| spellingShingle | Dobson, Amy Individuality is everything: Autonomous femininity in MySpace mottos and self-descriptions |
| title | Individuality is everything: Autonomous femininity in MySpace mottos and self-descriptions |
| title_full | Individuality is everything: Autonomous femininity in MySpace mottos and self-descriptions |
| title_fullStr | Individuality is everything: Autonomous femininity in MySpace mottos and self-descriptions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Individuality is everything: Autonomous femininity in MySpace mottos and self-descriptions |
| title_short | Individuality is everything: Autonomous femininity in MySpace mottos and self-descriptions |
| title_sort | individuality is everything: autonomous femininity in myspace mottos and self-descriptions |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/66788 |