Gender and Journalism: An Intersectional Approach

by Mary Angela Bock

Overview

Gender and Journalism introduces students to how one facet of our humanity—gender—has a tremendous effect on the people working in journalism; the subjects and framing of the stories they tell; and ultimately the people who consume those stories.

This engaging textbook provides a history of gender equality struggles alongside the development of news media in the United States. It provides foundational concepts, theories, and methods through which students can explore the role gender has played in news media. Promoting media literacy, the book empowers students to look at the many factors that influence stories and to become more critical media consumers and creators themselves.

While the book centers on women’s experiences in the United States, it also considers the political, economic, and cultural aspects of gender and journalism globally. It addresses experiences of LGBTQ and non-white individuals to give an intersectional context to the ramifications of gender. Students learn important concepts such as hegemonic masculinity, colorblind racism, infantilization, and the double binds and explore issues related to gender in photojournalism, sports journalism, and broadcasting.

Designed to humanize media institutions, the book highlights the lives of influential writers, journalists, activists, and media producers. Every chapter includes profiles of key journalists and activists and primary source excerpts, as well as reflection and media critique chapter-ending questions. Highlighted keywords in each chapter culminate in a comprehensive glossary. Instructor materials include suggested activities and sample quizzes.

Content Features:

• Discussion of communication and media studies terms and theory
• Introduction to gender studies terms and theory
• Discussion of civil rights and race issues as they intersect with gender and journalism
• History of first- and second-wave feminism
• LGBTQ+ examples and history of gay rights
• Dedicated chapter on masculinity

In-Text Features:

• Journalist and activist profile boxes
• Primary source excerpt boxes
• End-of-Chapter reflection and media critique questions
• Chapter keywords and cumulative glossary

Instructor Resources:

• Online News Guidance
• Multimedia Resources
• In-Class Activities
• Clip Flip Exercise
• Chapter Quiz Questions
• Sample Syllabus

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538159460
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/29/2023
Pages:	310
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.65(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Mary Angela Bock is associate professor in the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a former journalist (print, radio, and television) and public relations writer turned academic with an interest in the sociology of photographic practice, the rhetorical relationship between words and images, and digital media. Bock has authored the book Video Journalism: Beyond the One Man Band and co-authored Visual Communication Theory and Research with Shahira Fahmy and Wayne Wanta and The Content Analysis Reader with Klaus Krippendorff.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Gender, Society & Media

Chapter Two: Early American Journalism

Chapter Three: Media Industrialization and Women’s Opportunities

Chapter Four: The Second Wave and Civic Equality

Chapter Five: Gender in Political News

Chapter Six: Masculinity and Media

Chapter Seven: Rape Culture & Pornography

Chapter Eight: Sexuality and Media

Chapter Nine: Newsroom Diversity

Chapter Ten: Gender and Broadcasting

Chapter Eleven: Gender and Visual Journalism

Chapter Twelve: Gender in Digital Spaces

Chapter Thirteen: The Personal and Political in News

Chapter Fourteen: Gender and Sports Journalism

Chapter Fifteen: Gender, Journalism, and the Future

Glossary

Editorial Reviews

A fascinating, accessible survey of the complex intersection of mass media and gender justice. This book should be standard fare in journalism schools and communication studies programs.

Meg Heckman

Mary Angela Bock has a lively, engaging and thoroughly intersectional approach to help students understand women and journalism. Stories of individual media workers humanize accounts of sexism from Colonial days to the present. Bock fearlessly confronts controversies and stereotypes in coverage of sex and sexuality, women athletes, gaming, and Mommy Wars. I can’t wait to assign this book.

Linda Steiner

A fascinating, accessible survey of the complex intersection of mass media and gender justice. This book should be standard fare in journalism schools and communication studies programs.

Mary Angela Bock has a lively, engaging and thoroughly intersectional approach to help students understand women and journalism. Stories of individual media workers humanize accounts of sexism from Colonial days to the present. Bock fearlessly confronts controversies and stereotypes in coverage of sex and sexuality, women athletes, gaming, and Mommy Wars. I can't wait to assign this book.

This straightforward, informative book offers an in-depth analysis of portrayals of gender, race, social class, and sexuality in news. Filled with up-to-date popular culture references, the material is relevant and compelling. The text uses current and historical instances to illustrate how these depictions are socially constructed by journalism and mass media. Covering vital topics such as sports, rape culture, white beauty standards, LGBTQ+ communities, and harassment of journalists, this book should be required reading for all journalism students. It also is recommended for working journalists. While addressing problems in journalism and mass media, the book offers solutions, which elevates its purpose.

Those looking to better understand the culture war discourses that dominate 21st century media and politics can look to Mary Angela Bock's work to explore one of its lightning-rod topics-- gender. Historical, theoretical, and empirical breadcrumbs enlighten and inform readers' paths. Gender and Journalism: An Intersectional Approach addresses terms such as framing, stereotypes, and hegemony, and it foregrounds for readers Black and Chicana feminism; hypermasculinity; and queer and trans representation. Bock's work serves as a resource for journalism students, educators, professionals, and scholars looking to expand their knowledge in these critical times.

From the Publisher

This straightforward, informative book offers an in-depth analysis of portrayals of gender, race, social class, and sexuality in news. Filled with up-to-date popular culture references, the material is relevant and compelling. The text uses current and historical instances to illustrate how these depictions are socially constructed by journalism and mass media. Covering vital topics such as sports, rape culture, white beauty standards, LGBTQ+ communities, and harassment of journalists, this book should be required reading for all journalism students. It also is recommended for working journalists. While addressing problems in journalism and mass media, the book offers solutions, which elevates its purpose.

Tracy Everbach

Those looking to better understand the culture war discourses that dominate 21st century media and politics can look to Mary Angela Bock’s work to explore one of its lightning-rod topics— gender. Historical, theoretical, and empirical breadcrumbs enlighten and inform readers’ paths. Gender and Journalism: An Intersectional Approach addresses terms such as framing, stereotypes, and hegemony, and it foregrounds for readers Black and Chicana feminism; hypermasculinity; and queer and trans representation. Bock’s work serves as a resource for journalism students, educators, professionals, and scholars looking to expand their knowledge in these critical times.

Lisa D. Lenoir

Gender and Journalism takes an integrative approach to gender and journalism studies, interweaving these areas to present journalism history and theory through a gendered, specifically women’s studies, lens. It provides general overviews of topics at the intersection of journalism and gender studies and introduces basic vocabulary from both fields. Each chapter ends with reflexive questions designed to encourage and foster media literacy and critical thinking about journalistic practices. The text also supplements the content with images, biographies, and excerpts from primary sources. Bock makes a good effort to take an intersectional approach to “women” by including information about women who are racially and sexually minoritized....The book will be useful as an introductory survey textbook for those studying journalism, culture, and society. Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates.

Choice Reviews