What\u27s Feminism Got to Do with It? Examination of Feminism in Women\u27s Everyday Lives

In recent decades there has been considerable debate about the role and meaning of feminism in younger women\u27s lives. Feminism can be understood as an empowering discourse, fostering critical awareness and resistance to dominant social norms. However, it can also be experienced as regulatory and disciplinary, clearly defining who and what constitutes a good feminist. Utilizing Michel Foucault\u27s principle of care of the self, this paper analyzes women\u27s body practices in relation both to women\u27s interpretation of feminism and to dominant feminist discourses. The complexities of negotiating diverse social identities, as well as women\u27s desire for a happier life and greater self-worth, provide some important nuances to contemporary debates about feminism