Abstract

Feminist scholarship is deeply interested in the role of identity in feminist activism, yet the nature of feminist identity itself, its formation and maintenance, is not often discussed above and beyond activist action. In this study, I attempt to shed light on how contemporary feminist identity is formed and maintained as a continuous practice, by arguing that one's feminist identity is more than a motivation for political protests. This work begins by exploring the previous literature related to this topic, which is followed by the analysis of theoretical frameworks, including dramaturgical analysis (Goffman, 1959), social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), and Nepantla (Anzaldúa, 2015). By looking at feminist identification as a process rather than a singular point of one's life, I argue that feminist identification involves maintenance work across life stages, implying that feminist identification is a life-long, both collective and individual project. This study employed semi-structured interviews with eight self-identified feminists. The results are analyzed with common themes that emerged through the interviews. The findings of this research may not provide a generalizable account of the process of feminist identity formation and maintenance, as the participants of this study compromise only a small subset of people who take on this identity. Through this study, I aim to illuminate the various ways my participants engaged with feminism, and how their identity exists in the constant flow of time as they dealt with unexpected changes in social environments. Future research can address the limitations of this study by expanding participants both in terms of numbers and demographics.

Advisor

Thomas, Zareen

Second Advisor

Atay, Ahmet

Department

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

Gender and Sexuality | Social Psychology and Interaction

Keywords

Feminist identity, Identity formation, Identity maintenance, Care, Activism

Publication Date

2024

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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