Intersectional Feminism and Social Justice in Teen Vogue

in Girlhood Studies
Author:
Shara Crookston Women's and Gender Studies, University of Toledo, USA shara.crookston@utoledo.edu

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https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9479-1226
and
Monica Klonowski Associate Researcher, University of Toledo Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute, USA monica.klonowski@utoledo.edu

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5509-9787
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3167/ghs.2021.140304
Keywords:
fashion; marketplace feminism; political critique; postfeminism; social activism; style; teenage consumerism; teen magazines
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Abstract

In this article, we argue that Teen Vogue has evolved to encompass aspects of intersectional, feminist activism that is particularly evident in the 2017 “Voices” section of the magazine. This evolution challenges previous research that has found that, historically, teen magazines focus heavily on heteronormativity, ideals of beauty, and consumerism. Our analysis of the content of this section of Teen Vogue in 2017 demonstrates that teen magazines can be reimagined as legitimate sources of intersectional activist feminist information for readers. Despite these positive changes, however, Teen Vogue continues to advertise clothing brands that many adolescent girl readers are likely unable to afford, thereby reinforcing superficial postfeminist notions of empowerment.

Contributor Notes

Shara Crookston (ORCID: 0000-0001-9479-1226) is Assistant Professor of Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Toledo. Her research and teaching interests focus on depictions of adolescent girlhood in magazines and television, women and the body, and girls in sports. She is currently conducting research on contraception in Seventeen magazine. Email: shara.crookston@utoledo.edu

Monica Klonowski (ORCID: 0000-0002-5509-9787) is Associate Researcher for the University of Toledo Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute where she conducts qualitative research on human trafficking and community-based approaches to infant vitality. As a doctoral student, her research interests include the privatization of public K–12 education and structural violence in higher education. Email: monica.klonowski@utoledo.edu

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Girlhood Studies

An Interdisciplinary Journal

Cover Girlhood Studies
Article Category:
Research Article
Page Count:
18
Keywords:
fashion; marketplace feminism; political critique; postfeminism; social activism; style; teenage consumerism; teen magazines
Print Publication Date:
01 Dec 2021
Online Publication Date:
01 Dec 2021
Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021

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