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Fighting like a girl… or a boy? An analysis of videos of violence between young girls posted on online fight websites
How young women engage in physical violence with other young women is an issue that raises specific concerns in both criminological literature and theories. Current theoretical explanations construct young women’s violence in one of two ways: young women are not physically violent at all, and adhere to an accepted performance of hegemonic femininity; or young women reject accepted performances of hegemonic femininity in favour of a masculine gendered performance to engage in violence successfully. This article draws on qualitative and quantitative data obtained from a structured observation and thematic analysis of 60 online videos featuring young women’s violent altercations. It argues that, contrary to this dichotomous construction, there appears to be a third way young women are performing violence, underpinned by masculine characteristics of aggression but upholding a hegemonic feminine gender performance. In making this argument, this article demonstrates that a more complex exploration and conceptualisation of young women’s violence, away from gendered constructs, is required for greater understanding of the issue.
History
Publication title
Current Issues in Criminal JusticeVolume
27Pagination
269-284ISSN
1034-5329Department/School
School of Social SciencesPublisher
Institute of Criminology, University of Sydney Law SchoolPlace of publication
AustraliaRights statement
Copyright 2016 Institute of CriminologyRepository Status
- Restricted