Postfeminist Healthism: Understanding the Gendering of Healthism Using Menstrual Tracking Apps as an Example

  • Sarah Riley
  • , Adrienne Evans*
  • , Martine Robson
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

‘Postfeminist healthism’ offers an essential framework for understanding how healthism is gendered. In this article, we describe and advance the concept of postfeminist sensibility and its synergistic alignments with healthism. We then consider how postfeminist healthism operates as a subjectifying force for the millions of girls, women, and other feminine-identified people globally—even when it harms their mental or physical health. We use menstrual tracking apps (MTAs) as an indicative example to both demonstrate how a postfeminist healthism acts at the intersections of bodies, subjectivity, and health, and to show the value of a postfeminist healthism in understanding MTAs. Overall, we show the importance of understanding the distinct ways in which healthism is gendered through postfeminism.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere70116
Number of pages11
JournalSociology of Health and Illness
Volume47
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Nov 2025

Keywords

  • Gender
  • Healthism
  • Menstrual Tracking Apps
  • Postfeminist Sensibility
  • Postfeminist Healthism
  • Humans
  • Menstruation
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mobile Applications

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