Popular feminism in a Nordic welfare state: The new spirit of capitalism and popularized protests
The POPFEM project studies the popularisation of feminism: the integration of feminism into popular and consumer culture in an individualistic, joyful, aestheticised, and consumption-oriented form.
The project studies:
Culture: the interaction between feminism and media/popular culture
Economy: the commercialisation of feminism
Politics: the convergence of political activism and consumption
The POPFEM project explores how popular feminism reflects and shapes the relationships between culture, economy, and politics, as well as broader changes in social movements. The research helps to understand the conditions and possibilities for societal change today.
The project focuses empirically on popular feminism in Finland in the 2020s. The culture, economy, and politics of the Nordic welfare state, along with the tradition of state feminism, produce unique forms of popular feminism.
The POPFEM project is led by Associate Professor Hanna Ylöstalo. The team includes postdoctoral researchers Julius Hokkanen and Ella Poutiainen, senior researcher Katariina Mäkinen, and comics artist and social sciences student HP Ontto-Panula.
The project is funded by Kone Foundation.