PERFORMING GIRLHOOD: BETWEEN EMPOWERMENT AND EXPLOITATION

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.