Pop feminism(s) against the grain: articulations of agency, race, and class

This dissertation explores how popular feminist narratives, particularly guidebooks and handbooks, articulate themes of agency, race, and class within the media landscapes of the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States, respectively. The research is grounded in intersectional feminist studies, exploring how these literary expressions address patriarchy, racism, and classism. The focus is on how three fundamental themes – agency, race, and class – are addressed in popular feminist literature. These concepts, integral to the discussion within feminism, are often transformed and reinterpreted through a postfeminist and neoliberal lens. A counternarrative to the most popular one presented through the analysis of the guides is presented through the reading of a feminist manifesto in each context. As primary sources, the manifestos directly confront the narratives presented in the guides and offer different feminist perspectives. At the same time, they serve as secondary sources of feminist knowledge, providing critical tools to challenge the dominant narratives perpetuated by the guidebooks. The chapters unfold to scrutinise feminist trajectories in pop culture, methodological perspectives, and critical analyses of agency, race, and class in the UK, Italy, and the U.S., respectively. The findings underscore the need for a collective commitment for a more inclusive, antiracist, decolonial, anti-imperialist, and anti-capitalist feminism in popular culture globally. The comparative analysis between feminist guides and manifestos highlights the persistence of intersectional feminism in political claims, offering a contrast to mainstream representations.