The Future

After reading Mary Jane Kehily’s article, “Taking centre stage? Girlhood and the contradictions of femininity across three generations,” I paused at McRobbie and Garber’s starting point with speculation that

the relative absence of girls in subcultures may hinge around issues of gender and space, with girls being more centrally involved in the ‘private’ domestic sphere of home and family life rather than the ‘public’ world of the street where most subcultural activities seem to occur.” (53)

Assuming this is so, the future of girlhood and identities will be less of a “topic” for discussion and research in terms of seeking audience for girlhood studies.  Because females are no longer predominantly placed in the “domestic sphere” and are heard more frequently in the “public” world, I believe that the conversations on girlhood and female identity will change over time. 

This is not to say, however, that I believe the research and focus no longer need to exist because females are out of the private sphere.  This is not so, and of course; I am only speaking from a Western experience.  Globally, female and girl positionalities vary, thus necessitating varying discussions via varying forms of media. 

I believe that we will begin to hear more voices, candid responses, covert and overt voices of resistance, as women find and realize the necessity of creating space for sharing.