A Year of Bad Choices: The Postfeminist "Restorying" of Teen Dating Violence in Young Adult Literature. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Storer, Heather L.
• Is Part Of: Affilia. Volume 32:Number 3(2017:Aug.)
• Page Start: 292
• Page End: 307
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: teen dating violence -- young adult novels -- postfeminism -- media representations -- critical discourse analysis; Social work with women -- Periodicals; Women social workers -- Periodicals; 362.8305
• DOI: 10.1177/0886109917704935
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0886-1099

Abstract

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a significant social justice issue. The prevention of TDV requires interventions across ecological systems levels including the macro-level. The media has been implicated as influencing societal-level narratives about TDV. Using critical discourse analysis methodology, the purpose of this study is to unpack the dominant cultural narratives about TDV in young adult (YA) literature, a media genre that is marketed to adolescents. Data include YA novels with a central focus on TDV ( n = 8). Through these novels, the language of gender inequality was supplanted by a postfeminist rhetoric of choice, personal responsibility, and self-help.