Analyzing adolescent girls' use of instant messaging on the Internet through the lens of feminist ethnography, Stern (communication, DePaul U.) draws out themes, language, and signals that indicate situated identity, or ways of "performing and recognizing characteristic identities and activities; and ways of coordinating and getting coordinated by other people, things, tools, technologies, symbol systems, places, and times." In her analysis she considers instant messaging as a space for identity articulation, as a private sphere, and as a means of negotiating gender identity. She also discusses the place of instant messaging in a new media landscape in which identity is commodified. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)