Media Depictions of Brides, Wives, and Mothers ISBN-13: 9780739193044

Author: Ruggerio, Alena Amato

Brand: Lexington Books

Number Of Pages: 258

ISBN-13: 9780739193044

Release Date: 04-03-2014

Languages: English

Binding: Paperback

Package Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches

Details: Product Description

Media Depictions of Brides, Wives, and Mothers, edited by Alena Amato Ruggerio, explores how television, film, the internet, and other media variously perpetuate gender stereotypes. The contributors to this volume bring a variety of feminist rhetorical and media criticism approaches from across the communication discipline to their analyses of how television, film, news coverage, and the Internet shape our expectations of the performance of women’s identities. This collection includes studies of Bridezillas, Jon & Kate Plus 8, Sex and the City, Sarah Palin, Nancy Pelosi, The Devil Wears Prada, Practical Magic, “momtini” blogs, and Mad Men fan websites. Readers will learn to apply the insights from each chapter to their own sets of myths, stereotypes, and assumptions about gendered roles, and to recognize the possibilities for both liberation and domination when women’s practices of marrying, mating, and mothering are represented and misrepresented in the media. This collection is an essential contribution to media studies and criticism of gender stereotypes in contemporary culture.

Read the authors recent interview with Literary Ashland. You can also visit the authors website here.

Review

Alena Amato Ruggerios anthology offers a stimulating collection of chapters by scholars who discuss the impact of myths and stereotypes in media portrayals of brides, wives, and mothers. Whats most intriguing and hopeful is its media literacy approach, which neither wholly blames nor wholly forgives but rather advocates the empowerment of media consumers through critical thinking and social activism that can replace inappropriate and damaging images and perceptions with equality and justice. This collections excellent chapters provide road maps for this worthy outcome. — Mary-Lou Galician, Arizona State University

Although the editors aim is to offer current research on how media perpetuate gender stereotypes, one might wonder—given todays plethora of depictions of women throughout television, cable, film—if this is a cutting-edge endeavor. But the scholarship is impressive, and the 17 chapters do sweep anew over Kate Gosselin, Desperate Housewives, Sarah Palins grizzly bear mamas, Mad Men women, et al. In the mix, a few less-explored issues appear, for example, depictions of women in the military and Deepa Mehtas important film Water (2005), to which Lauren DeCarvalho applies Martha Nussbaums capabilites approach. The book will introduce less experienced readers to a broad scope of women scholars and impressive analyses and documentation. Summing Up: Recommended. ― Choice

About the Author

Alena Amato Ruggerio is associate professor of communication at Southern Oregon University.