In this course, we will consider depictions of the girl in literature, theory, and popular culture. We will begin the class with some theoretical readings about girlhood that will inform our reading of literary texts ranging from Caroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to Tracey Lindberg’s Birdie. The novels we read will shape our discussion of topics including the social construction of girlhood, conflicting attitudes about impending womanhood, body image and sizeism, sexual exploitation, and girls as consumers and producers of popular culture. We will consider girlhood through the lens of intersectionality by reading texts that depict the experiences of Black and Indigenous girls and conclude by considering attempts to reclaim or redefine the term “girl”.
