Because of what I perceive to be important contributions to female youth empowerment and the construction of culture and community, I chose to conduct a qualitative case study that explores the methods utilized in the performance of Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls, as well as the experiences of camp administrators, participants, and volunteers, in order to identify feminist constructs, aims, and outcomes of Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls. My interests lie in the feminist and activist approaches in the construction and production of Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls, as well as in the quest for equity, community building, and the production of culture that arises through participation. This thesis discusses the themes of feminism, feminist activism, networking, community building, cultural production, and the waging of equity as they are found in the production and performance of Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls.

This Master's thesis examines girls' self-esteem through a qualitative research project held in the summer of 2010 at Portland, Oregon's Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls. I interviewed ten white, middle class girls between the ages of ten and thirteen on various subjects including demographics, self-esteem, music, Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls and finally, experiences and pressures associated with being a girl. One key finding was the unique set of circumstances and experiences present which may foster higher self-esteem: 1) freedom from gender normative behavior; 2) skill mastery associated with learning an instrument; 3) support for a wider range of self-expression; 4) removal of the male gaze and male approval [in a female only space]; and 5) access to female role models. This thesis suggests that through their involvement with the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls, these ten girls experience greater self-esteem.