ABSTRACT
This chapter evaluates the current state of Girlhood Studies in Israel in the complicated context of persistent gender inequality on the one hand and a climate of feminism, including among young women, on the other. Despite the marginalization of girls in Israeli public discourse, a Girlhood Studies perspective began in the 1980s and has expanded over time. This development mirrors the expansion and revitalization of Israeli gender studies over the same period as it has become progressively more postmodern, intersectional, and immersed in the politics of identity theories. This analysis suggests that the discipline continues to develop and demonstrates an enhancement of the Girlhood Studies perspective in variety of aspects, including a diversification of topics, disciplines, and critical perspectives, with references to girls from distinct sociocultural groups. The development of Girlhood Studies in Israel is influenced by the global process of late capitalism and consumer culture, but it also reflects local characteristics such as the emphasis on military service and the close interconnection between the academic community and professional practices. Currently, the major challenge is to institutionalize the discipline.
