The two readings by Angela McRobbie expound on post-feminism as a drawback from the feminist gains of the 1970s and 80s. In the “Beyond Post Feminism” article, McRobbie discusses how we are in a period where feminism is regarded as a redundant discourse; particularly in the western world (McRobbie, 2011). The argument is that Western governments have already attained all the goals set out by the previous feminist movements such as equal labor rights, education and voting rights for women. Therefore, feminism is now in the past and only emphasized by the older (and some would say) outdated women.

We are in the neoliberal era where young women seem to own their sexual freedom. Advertisements are now re-focused on sexualizing the female body and encouraging public gaze without impurity. McRobbie explains how the Sexual Contract offers a false sense of gender equality. The sexual contract acts as a hegemonic agreement on the identification and status of young women. The contract encouraged young women to excel in their education and work force where they would be assured of gender equality. In exchange, the government would offer incentives such as a monthly wage which meant that they would be less financially dependent on the male, thus financial freedom. Financial freedom also allows for some sexual independence where sexual double standards are forgotten. However, as McRobbie points out, the contract fails to include any sort of political inclusion. For that reason, many young feminists remain politically silent in fear of being labelled as an angry feminist.

In the second article titled “Post-Feminism and Popular Culture”, McRobbie reiterates the point that post-feminism is a form of anti-feminism. Post-feminism in described as a double entanglement between conservative discourses of gender and sexuality with liberal advancements of diversity and choice of gender and sexuality (255). McRobbie suggests that the post-feminist woman is encouraged to focus on education but be devoid of any feminist politics. Living in the post-feminist era, I can understand McRobbie suggestion that perhaps this is a generation nostalgic to the pre-feminist era. Through the globalization of the media industry, girls and women are encouraged to own and celebrate their body in a structured manner. There are numerous advertisements which praise females for sexually liberating themselves through various forms of nudity. My critic is that the sexualisation of one’s body is being re-produced and therefore normalized as the only way for a woman to own their body and sexuality. One does not need to expose their body or appear confident and ‘sexy’ so as to be recognized as embracing their body.