Feminist explanations

• Summary

  • Patriarchy makes women inferior to men and so there is little research into involvement of females in YC
  • However, feminist research has shown girls have always been somewhat involved in YC but are more actively involved today
• 1st feminist explanation

  • McRobbie and Garber argued research was malestream
  • Need for inclusive research methodologies
  • Challenge to male-centric narratives in sociology
  • Research on Punks, Hippies, Late Skinheads and Teddy boys was mainly focused on men and assumed women joined for the same reasons, however women joined for very different reasons
• 2nd explanation of YC

  • McRobbie and Garber argued because men didn't pay much attention to young women they assumed they were passive participants to be with their boyfriends
  • They conducted their own research and found they were active in some and passive in others
  • Example: female Rockers played a supportive and sexualised role
  • Female mods were involved and found preoccupation with style and fashion
• 3rd explanation

  • McRobbie and Garber (1975): Found that girls formed unique youth cultures in response to their gendered experiences.
  • Girls had limited time to engage in youth subcultures due to societal roles and responsibilities.
  • Girls were drawn to pop music and magazines, as these were low-maintenance and adaptable leisure activities.
  • Magazines likeJackiereinforced traditional gender roles, emphasizing being a housewife and mother, which suppressed aspirations for independence or rebellion.
• 4th feminist explanation

  • Jackson found girls started to to engage in 'laddish' behaviour in ASSC's in the early 2000s, know as 'ladettes'
  • They engaged in this behaviour to be cool and popular
  • They would smoke and drink
• 5th feminist explanation

  • Girls in gangs often come from dysfunctional families
  • Batchelor said girls in gangs usually had bad home lives so joined gangs to feel a sense of belonging
  • But said these girls are at risk of sexual exploitation due to passive role and are objectified and are also less likely to be suspected of illegal activity
• 6th feminist explanation

  • Atwood studied riot grrls and said them grew out of punk because it was sexists and riot grrls were empowering and safe
  • Participants wrote 'slut' on their body to reclaim the word
• 7th feminist explanation

  • Jackson and Tinkler argue the media created a moral panic as a result of female binge drinkers
  • As a result many parents and the public became anxious this was a serious problem
  • Jackson and Tinkler argued this was a form of social control and boys would not be labelled the same