Abstract:
This thesis examines the construction, performance, and commodification of girlhood
and femininity in the digital era, focusing on social media, literature, and cultural trends.
It explores how platforms like TikTok and Instagram have reshaped girlhood through
aesthetics such as the "girlissance" 1 and "I'm Just a Girl" 2 , dangling between
empowerment and commodification. Drawing on theories of gender performativity,
surveillance, and post-feminism, the research investigates how girlhood is both
reclaimed and infantilized, and how social media trends foster self-expression while
reinforcing patriarchal ideals.
The study critiques the hyper-commodification of femininity, where individuality is
curated for consumption, and highlights the tension between gender transgression and
normative constraints. Case studies on viral trends and literary depictions explore these
themes, emphasizing intersectionality. This thesis aims to draw a line between
empowerment and exploitation, for young impressionable minds to be conscious of
their use of the internet. While these trends may appear fascinating, our individual
identities are getting lost somewhere. This thesis argues for a critical understanding of
the internet’s dual role in empowering and exploiting femininity, advocating for digital
spaces that prioritize authenticity and inclusivity.
