Abstract: A crosslinked micellar gel composition is comprised of a polymer formed by a reaction between (a) ionic surfactant units which include ionic surfactant molecules, each of which includes a counterion which has a first polymerizable functional group, (b) crosslinking agent molecules, each of which includes two second polymerizable functional groups, and (c) a reaction initiator selected from the group consisting of reaction initiator molecules and ultraviolet light radiation, wherein the reaction initiator initiates a reaction between a plurality of the ionic surfactant units with each other and a plurality of the ionic surfactant units with the second polymerizable functional groups. The polymer compositions formed from the reactions are crosslinked micellar gels which include a network structure of rodlike micelles forming a soft gel material which retains features and utility of rodlike micelles and benefits from the structural stability of a crosslinked polymer matrix.