Giving voice to girls: A child-centric examination of the lived experiences of young girls aged 7-13 in their personal media contexts

Abstract

Concerns arise regarding young girls’ relationships with media. This child-centric study elicits the voices of 14 young girls and the views of their parents and educators in one primary school. A mixed-research approach to data generation included interviews, questionnaires, magazine and music video analysis, and child-guided/documented home tours. Girls’ relationships with media are intimate, emotional, and meaningful, contrasting with cautious and less comfortable adult views. Recommendations for educators, parents, researchers and girls are provided.