Femininity in the 21st Century

This review provides an overview of research that explores femininity through the lens of a postfeminist sensibility. I give an account of two developments that have shaped recent research, in terms of 1) the proliferation of digital, social and self-representational media, which has created a new culture of emotion and feeling, and 2) the visibility and popularity of particular forms of ‘popular’ digital feminist activism. I show how these developments change the contours of a postfeminist sensibility, where its characteristics are deepened or adapted to fit new contexts. I conclude with suggestions on future directions for research on femininity and a postfeminist sensibility, especially in relation to emerging digital technologies and dramatically different political contexts.