Activism networks, defined here as virtual or in-person communities devoted to social change, are conceived of as empowering and productive spaces for collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Participation in activism networks is characterized by social categories including gender, age, location, sexuality, race, and ability (Gordon 2008). The power of girls’ agency and their position as political actors is being recognized increasingly (Driscoll 2008). With the advent of digital technology that enables communication across geographic divides, there has been a growing emergence of activism networks led by, for, and with girls and young women (Burns and Easton 2016) for whom participation in activism networks can multiply and mobilize their collective influence. They can also be empowering sites of decolonization and resistance to hegemonic and oppressive norms. Networked activities may include organizing for policy change, writing or creating art to reflect lived experiences, or raising awareness and/or funds to support social causes. They can be initiated by girls or by adults for or with girls. Problematic practices can characterize initiatives that use or promote such activism, including tokenism, appropriation, exclusion, and Eurocentrism (Bent 2016; Switzer et al. 2016), and further research into the influence of the diverse communities embodied by these activism networks has been called for (Fraser et al. 2016).

For this special issue of Girlhood Studies, we invite articles that use a range of methodological approaches to analyze activism networks led by, for, and with girls and young women. The terms girls and young women are inclusive of all self-identifying girls and young women including non-binary, femme, two spirit, and gender non-conforming young people. Articles may include empirical research, case studies, autoethnographic experiences, artistic representations, or may be about theoretical or conceptual frameworks. Along with conventional articles and visual essays, alternative contributions such as a very short screenplay or piece of fiction, poetry, or lyrics will be considered, as will material produced by girls and young women.