Moving Beyond Conspicuous Leisure Consumption: Adolescent Women, Mobile Phones and Public Space

Abstract

In this paper we explore mobile phones as a form of fashion accessory for young women in contemporary culture and the possible value of such fashionable items as a source of identity and self‐worth. Despite reliance on the usual stultifying stereotypes produced by marketeers to promote mobile phones, we explore the possibility that increased access to public space generates for adolescent girls alternative choices of leisure experiences and possibilities of multiple enriching identities. The findings suggest that mobile phone use can impart a sense of self‐confidence, sexuality and autonomy which defies the male gaze in public spaces and may allow adolescent women to reject traditional images of femininity at a formative stage in the life course and take steps to a further array of leisure choices. It may only be a temporary image that assists a sense of self at a vulnerable time in life, or it may infiltrate other aspects of subjectivity and assist an ongoing sense of self‐confidence. However, this particular leisure activity can be seen as enabling, allowing entry to an arena, that of public space, that has hitherto been limited by the male gaze and other stereotypes of adolescent women. Through in‐depth interviews with teenage mobile phone users and a review of the literature we have examined the success that this form of technology has had with this social group.

Keywords:

• Identity
• leisure
• technology
• femininity
• male gaze
• teenagers

Notes

1. There is a comprehensive body of theoretical works pertaining specifically to the feminist critique of the gender differences in leisure (cf. Anderson, 1975; Shaw, 1985, 1994; Deem, 1986, 1992; Wimbush & Talbot, 1988; Bella, 1989; Dempsey, 1989; Henderson et al., 1989; Green et al., 1990; Wearing, 1990; Fullagar, 1991; Freysinger & Flannery, 1992; McRobbie, 1993; Scraton, 1994; Mowl & Towner, 1995; Aitchison, 1996). Furthermore, this work has been supported by numerous studies of men’s and women’s leisure, which demonstrate the differential of gendered experience (cf. Deem, 1987, 1988; Green et al., 1987; Hargreaves, 1987; Beale, 1988; Henderson & Rannells, 1988; Bryson, 1990; Broom et al., 1992; Mason‐Cox, 1992; Thompson, 1992; Wearing, 1992; Currie, 1996; Wearing & Wearing, 1996; Brace‐Govan, 1997; Stedman, 1997).

2. This struggle, in conjunction with that of identity formation for adolescent females, is openly explored through the candid words of girls, compiled to create the non‐fiction novel Ophelia Speaks (Shandler, 1999).

3. Henderson et al. offer one aspect of postfeminist literature: ‘The lack of mention of feminism may suggest that the research on women and leisure is in a postfeminist mode’ (2002: p. 258). Furthermore, Henderson et al. believe this to be a positive sign that the rationale to conduct this type of research does need to be rationalised.