I’ve just uploaded a draft of Chapter 2 of my book. This chapter examines the discourses of self-esteem and girl power in the advice produced for girls about sexting and online safety from 2005 to 2010. I find that these forms of advice often encourage girls to censor themselves and exercise extreme caution online, treating their creativity and online expression as symptoms of low self-esteem that needs to be corrected. Most troubling, this advice to girls unfairly holding them responsible for preventing male sexual violence and harassment. I end on an optimistic note, arguing that online safety messages would be more evenhanded and effective if they were built on an alternative model of girls’ agency promoting collective action and social justice.
Amy A. Hasinoff 