Communication Theses Department of Communication
Fall 12-15-2010
Nadya Suleman and Kate Gosselin in the Media:
Exploring Images of Motherhood and
Reproductive Technology
Lisa A. Hanna
Georgia State University
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Recommended Citation
Hanna, Lisa A., "Nadya Suleman and Kate Gosselin in the Media: Exploring Images of Motherhood and Reproductive Technology." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2010.
F O S E G A M I G N I R O L P X
E MOTHERHOODANDREPRODUCTIVETECHNOLOGY
y b
A N N A H N N A A S I L
s r e y e M n a ir a M f o n o it c e ri D e h t r e d n U
T C A R T S B A
s e n i m a x e t c e j o r p s i h
T howNadyaSulemanandKateGosseilnwerer epresentedi nt hemedia
h tr i b e h t g n i w o ll o
f soft hei rhighe rorde rmulitple sbyconducitngaciritcalt extua lanalysi so f
s e l c it r a e n i z a g a m t n e m n i a tr e t n e d n a r e p a p s w e
n toanswert hef ollowingquesitons :Howwere
s r e h t o m s a d e y a rt r o p n il e s s o G d n a n a m e l u
S ?An ho d wweretheyporrtayedasr ecipient so f
y g o l o n h c e t e v it c u d o r p e
r ?The ifndingsillusrtatet hatr aceandclas scombinedwtihgendert o
e l o r t n a tr o p m i n a y a l
p indeterminingwhoha sa irghtt obeamothe randwhatt ha tmothers hould
. e k il k o o
l Tradi itonals tereotypeswtihinmediacoverageabou tgoodmother sandbadmother s
d e c r o f n i e
r prejudice sabou twhodeserve saccesst or eproducitvet echnologyandwhodoe snot.
: S D R O W X E D N
I Reproducitvet echnology ,NadyaSuleman ,KateGosseiln,I nfe trlitiy
A K D N A N A M E L U S A Y D A
N TEGOSSELINI NTHEMEDIA:
F O S E G A M I G N I R O L P X
E MOTHERHOODANDREPRODUCTIVETECHNOLOGY
y b
A N N A H N N A A S I L
s i s e h T
A Submittedi nParita lFul ifllmentoft heRequriementsf ort heDegreeof
s tr A f o r e t s a M
e h t n
i Collegeo fA tr sandSciences
y ti s r e v i n U e t a t S a i g r o e G
y b t h g ir y p o C
a n n a H n n A a s i L
A K D N A N A M E L U S A Y D A
N TEGOSSELINI NTHEMEDIA:
F O S E G A M I G N I R O L P X
E MOTHERHOODANDREPRODUCTIVETECHNOLOGY
y b
A N N A H N N A A S I L
:r i a h C e e tt i m m o
C Ma iranMeyers
n a m e e r F d o o w k c a P e ir r a C : e e tt i m m o C
r e ll u F n y r h t a
K -Seeley
: d e v o r p p A n o i s r e V c i n o rt c e l E
s e i d u t S e t a u d a r G f o e c if f O
s e c n e i c S d n a s tr A f o e g e ll o C
a t S a i g r o e
G teUniverstiy
t n e m e g d e l w o n k c
A s
l a n o i s s e f o r p d n a l a n o s r e p r i e h t r o f e e tt i m m o C s i s e h T y m f o r e b m e m h c a e k n a h t o t e k il d l u o w I
y m d e s i v r e p u s o h w , s r e y e M n a ir a M . r D k n a h t o t e k il y ll a i c e p s e d l u o w I . e c n a d i u
g thesi sand
s t n e t n o C f o e l b a T
s t n e m e g d e l w o n k c
A ...i v
n o it c u d o r t n
I ... 1 ..
w e i v e R e r u t a r e ti
L ...7
a i d e M s s a M d n a e r u tl u C r a l u p o P n i n e m o W f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e
R ...7
a t n e s e r p e R a i d e
M iton so fMothers ...1 2
s r e h t o M d a
B ...1 6
s r e h t o M g n i s s i
M ...2 1
e l u S a y d a
N man( Octomom) ... 5..2
) 8 s u l P e t a K & n o J ( n il e s s o G e t a
K ...2 7
e r u tl u C r a l u p o P n i s s a l C d n a y ti r b e l e
C ...2 9
y ti r b e l e C d n a V T y ti l a e
R ...3 4
s s e n r e h t
O ... 73
y g o l o n h c e T e v it c u d o r p e R d n a y ti li t r e f n
I ...4 2
y g o l o n h c e T e v it c u d o r p e R f o s w e i V l a c i h t
E ...4 4
y r o e h T t s i n i m e F d n a y g o l o n h c e T e v it c u d o r p e
R ... 64
e r u tl u C r a l u p o P n i y g o l o n h c e T e v it c u d o r p e R f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e
R ... 8..4
n e m o W g n i m a l
B ...5 0
y g o l o d o h t e
M ...5 3
s g n i d n i
F ...5 9
s w e N l a n o it i d a r T d n a t n e m n i a t r e t n E n i n il e s s o G e t a
K ...5 9
l e c a s a e t a
K ebrtiy. ...5 9
. r e h t o m a s a e t a
. y g o l o n h c e t e v it c u d o r p e r f o t n e i p i c e r a s a e t a
K ...7 1
s w e N l a n o it i d a r T d n a t n e m n i a t r e t n E n i n a m e l u S a y d a
N ...7 4
. r e h t o m a s a a y d a
N ...7 4
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N itvet echnology. ...8 0
n o i s u l c n o
C ... 5..8
s e c n e r e f e
o r t n
I duc iton
a y d a N d e m a n n a m o w a i n r o fi l a C a , 9 0 0 2 n
I Sulemangavebi trht ooctuplets,causinghe r
, r a e y e m a s t a h T . a i d e m e h t y b ” m o m o t c O “ d e b b u d e b o
t KateGosseiln ,bes tknowna sKate,t he
s n i w t d n a s t e l p u t x e s f o r e h t o
m whoweref eaturedi nt her ealtiys howJon&KatePlu s8 ,wa s
. d e l e v a r n u e g a ir r a m r e h s a s e n i z a g a m t n e m n i a tr e t n e d n a d i o l b a t n i d e r u t a e f y lr a l u g e
r Whliet heri
h g i h d e v i e c n o c n e m o w h t o b , t n e r e f fi d y r e v e r a s e ir o t
s e rordermulitple s t( irplet so rgreater )
t e v it c u d o r p e r h g u o r h
t echnology(Gosseiln ,Gosseiln ,&Carson ,2008 ;Richard s&Olshan ,
) 9 0 0
2 .
n o it n e tt a a i d e m t n e c e
R –i ncludingt heabovet woexample s– rid ectedati nfe trliecouple s
s s e n e r a w a d e s a e r c n i n a d e s u a c s a
h ofr eproducitvet echnology(Marsh&Ronner ,1996) .Whlie
o p p u s e l p o e p y n a
m r taccesst or eproducitvet echnology ,manyalsoopposei .tSomepeoplef ee l
n a l p s ’ d o G f o t r a p t o n s i n o it p e c n o c d e t s i s s a t a h
t (Marsh&Ronner ,1996) .Somef eelt ha tan
n o it p e c n o c f o t n e m o m e h t t a n o s r e p a s i o y r b m
e ,andt ha ttherei snomorallyacceptablewayt o
s u r e t u e h t f o e d i s t u o d e z il it r e f e r a s g g e e r e h w s e r u d e c o r p n i e t a p i c it r a
p (Mundy ,2007) .Some
w e i
v r eproducitvet echnologya sanattemp tbyment omedicailzewomen’ sbodie sandconrto l
d o o h r e h t o
m (Michie&Cahn ,1997).
t a h t y s r e v o rt n o c e h t o t g n it u b ir t n o c n i e l o r t n a tr o p m i n a d e y a l p e v a h a i d e m e h T
y g o l o n h c e t e v it c u d o r p e r s d n u o r r u
s (Marsh&Ronner ,1996). Mos tmediacoverageconcerning
s t n e m t a e rt y ti li tr e f n i n i s h g u o r h t k a e r
b sha beencauitouslyopitmisitcaboutt hebeneftisoft he
y g o l o n h c e
t (Brienbaum-Carmeil ,2003) .Mediacoverageo fwomens uffe irngf romi nfe trlitiyi s
a i d e m e h T . c it a m e l b o r p e r o
m frequenltyporrtayi nfe trlitiya sanupper-middle-class,whtie
e s a e s i d s ’ n e m o
w – eventhoughi nfetr litiyr ate sarehigherf o rpoo randworking-clas swomen –
d n
n o s e s u c o f y ti li tr e f n i t u o b a e s r u o c s i
d womenwhocanafford rteatment,andt hi srteatmenti s
u j e s o h t o t e l b a li a v a n u n e tf
o dgedbyt hemedicalpracititonerst obeoutsideoft hes tandardst hey
e k a m e v e il e
b agoodmothe r(Mer irck&Blank ,2003 ;Michie&Cahn ,1997) .
s e i d u t
S o fthenews ,magazines ,adveritsing,t elevisionandmovie sdemonsrtatet ha t
r e tt a m a i d e m e h t n i s n o it a t n e s e r p e
r (Kinnick ,2009). Fo rexample ,youngpeopleusethemas s
ri e h t f o t s o m n i a t b o o t a i d e
m poilitcali nformaiton ,andt hemas smedias igni ifcanltyi n lfuence
s n o i n i p o l a c it il o
p (Kinnick ,2009) .Poilitcali nformaitoni sno tonlyf oundi nexpectedplaces ,
g n i m m a r g o r p t n e m n i a tr e t n e d n a s t n e m e s it r e v d a n i o s l a t u b , s w e n e h t s a h c u
s (Kinnick ,2009) .
n
I Backlash ,SusanFaludi(1991)discussest hepowert hatt henew smediahaveove r
e h S . k n i h t e l p o e p y a w e h t g n i p a h
s explainst hat ,“ilkeanyl argei nsttiuiton , t[henew smedia’s ]
g n il i a v e r p e h t o t e l b it p e c s u s y l s s o r g t s u j , c it a m m a r g o r p r o d e t a ti d e m e r p t ’ n e r a s t n e m e v o m
” s t n e r r u c l a c it il o
p (Faludi ,1991 ,p .77).Thesepo ilitca lcurrent sarer e lfecitveoft heculture’ s
n i e s o h t s tr o p p u s t a h t s e c n e i d u a g n o m a t e s d n i m a e t a e r c a i d e m s s a m e h T . y g o l o e d i t n a n i m o d
e r u tl u c e h t n i h ti w y ti r o h t u a d n a r e w o
p (Atlhusser ,1971 ;Gtiiln ,1980 ;S .Hall ,1982) .Thecutlure
” m s il a ti p a c l a h c r a ir t a p , e ti h w “ f o m e t s y s a d n u o r a s e v l o v e r s e t a t S d e ti n U e h t n
i (Fiske ,1989 ,p .
) 1 .
a m e h t o d y l n o t o
N s smediar einforcepat irarchy,t heyplayaveryi mpo trantr olei n
y g o l o e d i s i h t o t n i y u b o t s p u o r g d e t a n i d r o b u s g n i c n i v n o
c ,a swel.lI nMediatedWomen ,Ma iran
s r e y e
M (1999)discussest hewaysi nwhichpat irarchyworkst omaintaint hes tatu squo:
o s g n i d n a t s r e d n u r a l u c it r a p e t o m o r p d n a e c a r b m e t s u m ] r e w o p n i e s o h T
[ fr ace ,class ,
y ti l a u x e s d n
a —alongwtih rtadi itona lgenders tereotype sandbeilefs—fit hei deals , e
l d d i m , l a u x e s o r e t e h , e ti h w f o s n o i n i p o d n a , s e u l a
v -anduppe rclas smenaret or emain
y g o l o e d i g n il i a v e r p s i h t , d e e d n I . y t e i c o s n i h ti w y g o l o e d i t n a n i m o d e h
t mus tappea r
. e v it c e f f e e b o t l a u s n e s n o c d n a , l a c i s n e s n o m m o c , e l b a ti v e n i ,l a r u t a
s r e y e
M (1999)alsoexplainst hatt hemediahelpt hosei npowe rgaincompilancef romdominated
: s p u o r g s p u o r g d e t a n i d r o b u
S —women ,peopleo fcolo ,rt hepoo randworkingclasse ,sl esbian s y lr e d l e e h t , n e m y a g d n
a —areencouragedt o“buyi nto”t hedominanti deologywhich,i n k r o w l a c i g o l o e d i e h t ,s u h T . d e t a n i d r o b u s m e h t g n i p e e k y b o u q s u t a t s e h t s n i a t n i a m , t c a f n a h t l a e r r o l a r u t a n e r o m s r a e p p a t a h t y ti l a e r a g n it n e s e r p f o , tr a p n i ,s t s i s n o c a i d e m e h t f o o b u s f o s e c n a t s m u c ri c l a ir e t a m e h
t rdinatedpeople’ silves—evenwhent hose . s e g a s s e m s ’ a i d e m e h t t c i d a rt n o c o t r a e p p a d l u o w s e c n a t s m u c ri
c (pp .7- )8
, y e v n o c o t e p o h y e h t s g n i n a e m d e r r e f e r p e v a h y a m s e g a s s e m g n it a e r c e s o h t h g u o h tl A g a s s e m e s e h t f o s r e v i e c e r e v i s s a p t o n e r a s e c n e i d u a a i d e m s s a
m es .C iritcalt hinkingallow s
e r o f e r e h t ,t n e s g n i e b e g a s s e m a t s i s e r y l b i s s o p d n a m o r f s g n i n a e m t n e r e f fi d e k a t o t s e c n e i d u a y g o l o e d i t n a n i m o d e h t g n it s i s e
r (Beali ,2009 ;Desca tre s&Kottak ,2009) .J ohnFiske(1987)
t a h t s e u g r
a “thedominanti deology…canber esisted ,evaded ,o rnego itatedwtih,i nvarying
” s r e d a e r d e t a u ti s y ll a i c o s y lt n e r e f fi d y b s e e r g e
d (p .179).
n
I WomenandMedia :ACriitcalI ntroduciton ,CarolynM .ByelryandKarenRos s
) 6 0 0 2
( discus showt henew smediarepresen twomeni nou rcutlure:
e h t o t s e g a s s e m t n a tr o p m i d n e s a i d e m s w e n n i d e t n e s e r p e r e r a n e m o w h c i h w n i s y a w e h T d n a , e l o r s ’ n e m o w , e c a l p s ’ n e m o w t u o b a s c il b u p g n i d a e r d n a , g n i n e t s il , g n i w e i v n e m o
w ’ silves .Themedia…arearguablyt hepirmaryde ifner sands haper soft henew s n a a d n e g
a dperformacrucia lcu tluralf uncitoni nt hei rgenderedf ramingo fpubilci ssue s . e t o m o r p y lt n e t s i s r e p y e h t t a h t s e s r u o c s i d d e r e d n e g e h t n i d n
a (p .40)
n
I Feminism ,Fron tandCenter ,LindaBeai landLillyJ .Goren(2009)explain ,
, s e n i z a g a m h g u o r h t , m li f n i , n o i s i v e l e t n o d e t c i p e d e r a s e v il s ’ n e m o w t a h t s y a w e h t g n i z y l a n a “ m s i v it c a l a c it il o p e t a m it i g e l s i e r u t a r e ti l n i d n
a ,becauset hoser epresentaiton sareusedbywomen
” s e it il a e r e t a e r c d n a g n i n a e m e k a m o t ) n e m d n a
( (p .3) . Medias cholar shaveestabilshed ilnk s
n e m o w g n i d u l c n i , n e m o w t u o b a s e d u ti tt a d n a s n o it a t n e s e r p e r a i d e m n e e w t e b n i a g a d n a e m
it ’ s
s e v l e s m e h t f o s n o it a t c e p x e n w
o (Beai l&Goren ,2009) .Researchs howst hatr epresentaiton so f
t i g n it a e r c n i e t a p i c it r a p o s l
a (Beali ,2009).I nMediaMoraltiyTale sandt hePoilitc so f
d o o h r e h t o
M ,Kathe irneKinnick(2009)explainst ha t“bywha tal loft hesemediachooset o
y l d n u o f o r p a y a l p a i d e m , t u o e v a e l y e h t t a h w s a l l e w s a , e z ir o l a v d n a e z i s a h p m
e impo trantr ole
” s e v il r i e h t f o s e g a t s ll a t a n e m o w r o f s n o it a t c e p x e d n a s m r o n l a t e i c o s g n it c u rt s n o c n
i (p .2). By
e r u tl u c r a l u p o p g n i z y l a n
a ,wegaini nsighti ntot hecurrentr ole sandnorm so fwomen(Beali ,
) 9 0 0 2 .
d o o h r e h t o m t u o b a s a e d i r u o s e p a h s d n a s e t a e r c o s l a e r u tl u c r a l u p o
P (Tong ,1989) .
s a l l e w s a , d o o h r e h t o m e z ir o m a l g d n a e z il a e d i n e tf o s r e h t o m f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e r a i d e m t n e r r u C
a p u t e
s dichotomybetweengoodmother sandbadmothers(Kinnick ,2009). I nMommyAngst :
e r u tl u C r a l u p o P n a c i r e m A n i d o o h r e h t o
M ,AnnHal landMardiaBishop(2009)explaint ha t
t n e r r u
c r epresentaiton so fmother ssanctfiyandvlifiymotherhoodwhlieatt hes ame itme
e h t g n i s s i m s i
d dfi ifculitest ha tmothersf aceandt hecont irbuiton stha ttheymaketof am liyand
. y t e i c o s
g n i g n a h c o s l a s i y g o l o n h c e t e v it c u d o r p e
R t hewaysweviewmotherhood(Marsh&
) 6 9 9 1 , r e n n o
R .Whliei tcouldbearguedt hati nfe trlitiy rteatmentss rtengthent hef amliyby
m o r
p oitngchlidbea irng,t hese rteatment schallengeconvenitona lnoiton soff amliyandhave
d n a n e m o w f o e l o r e h t g n i n r e c n o c s e i s r e v o rt n o c e h t f o r e t n e c e h t t a s e v l e s m e h t d n u o f e r o f e r e h t
y t e i c o s r u o n i y li m a f f o g n i n a e m e h
t (Marsh&Ronner ,1996).
r o f s n o it a c il p m i s a h o s l a y g o l o n h c e t e v it c u d o r p e r f o e s u e h t f o e g a r e v o c a i d e M
n I . y g o l o n h c e t s i h t o t s s e c c a s a h o h w g n i n r e c n o c n o it a l s i g e
l WhyWeShouldI gnoret he
m o m o t c
O ,Kimbe lryKrawiec(2009)arguest ha tmediacoverageo fNadyaSulemanandhe r
s a h s t e l p u t c
o ledt opubilcourtageconcerningr eproducitvet echnologyandcurrentr egulaitons:
o t o s l a t u b , s l a s o p o r p m r o f e r y r o t a l u g e r d a b o t y l n o t o n d e l e v a h s t c a f d r a h s ’ n a m e l u S
u
w e n f o y t e ir a v a r o f d e ll a c e v a h s r e h t o d n a , s r e k a m y c il o p , s r o t a l s i g e l d n a , n a m e l u S
e h t o t e s n o p s e r n i ) s T R A ( s e i g o l o n h c e t e v it c u d o r p e r d e t s i s s a f o e s u e h t n o s n o it c ir t s e r
t c
O omomconrtoversy .(p .120)
s i h
T pubilcf uryi salsoaffecitngpubilcopinionabou tpendings tatel egislaitont omake
n I . y r o t a d n a m e g a r e v o c e c n a r u s n
i awebstiewherepeoplecanvoicet hei ropinionabou t
t a h t n o it a l s i g e
l wouldmandatei nfe trlitiyi nsurancecoveragei nMichigan ,abloggers tated ,“ I
. e g a r e v o c y ti li tr e f n i r o f y a p o t t n a w t ' n o
d fIs omeonewantst ohaveababyt ha totherwisecanno t
.t i r o f y a p m e h t t e l n e h
t Wedon' tneedanOctomomi nMichigan. Howdoyouplant opayf o r
” ? e n o s i h
t ("Michiganvote ,s "2008) .
e h
T f act sabou tmandatoryi nsurancecoveragef orr eproducitvet echnologypointi na
n o i n i p o c il b u p n a h t n o it c e ri d t n e r e f fi
d (Marshall ,2009) .Researcher shavef oundwheni nsurance
s t n e m t a e rt y ti li tr e f n i s e d u l c n i e g a r e v o
c ,t hecostt oi nsurersi ss mal landmayevens avet hem
d e r e w o l s i s e i c n a n g e r p e l p it l u m r e d r o r e h g i h f o k s ir e h t s a , y e n o
m (Marshall ,2009). InEighti s
h g u o n
E ,Naom iCahn&J ennife rColiln s(2009)expla : in
f o t a h t d n a h tl a e h n w o r i e h t k s ir o t g n il li w e r a s l a u d i v i d n i t a h t s n o s a e r e h t f o e n o , d e e d n I
l a u d i v i d n i h c a e e s u a c e b s i s o y r b m e f o r e b m u n e g r a l a g n ir r e f s n a rt y b n e r d li h c e r u t u f ri e h t
f a o t e l b a e b y l n o y a m t n e it a p a t a h t e v i s n e p x e o s s i e r u d e c o r p F V
I fordoneo ra tmos t
e h t ,s t p m e tt a F V I e l p it l u m r e v o c d l u o w e c n a r u s n i t a h t w e n k s t n e it a p f I .s t p m e tt a o w t
d e c u d e r y lt a e r g e b d l u o w e r u d e c o r p e l g n i s y n a n o e l b m a g o t n o it a t p m e
t .(p .511)
g n ir o l p x
E howt hemediaporrtaywomenwhouser eproducitvetechnologie sthu scan
e t a u l a v e r e h tr u f s u p l e
h andaddt oexisitngr esearchconcerningwomenandmotherhood .
d e w e i v s i d o o h r e h t o m w o h f o g n i d n a t s r e d n u r e tt e b a n i a g o t s u e l b a n e l li w a e r a s i h t n i h c r a e s e R
s e i g o l o n h c e t w e n n e h w e m it a g n ir u d e r u tl u c r u o n
i arequicklychangingwhocanbecomea
. o s o d o t e l b a e r a y e h t s e v il r i e h t n i e m it t a h w t a d n a r e h t o m
h c r a e s e r s i h
T exploreshowNadyaSulemanandKateGosseilnwerer epresentedi nt he
. s e l p it l u m r e d r o r e h g i h r i e h t f o h tr i b e h t g n i w o ll o f a i d e
o w e m a r
f rkt ha taddressesr elaiton so fpowe randt her ole sgende ,rr aceandclas splaywtihin
. n o it a t n e s e r p e
r Byconducitngacir itca ltextua lanalysi so fnewspape randente trainmen t
y d u t s s i h t ,s e l c it r a e n i z a g a
m a ssk howNadyaSulemanandKateGosseilnwererepresentedi n
d n a r e p a p s w e
n ente trainmen tmagazinecoverage .Mores peci ifcally,i texamines howSuleman
n il e s s o G d n
a wereporrtayeda smothersa hnd owt heywereporrtayedasr ecipient so f
e v it c u d o r p e
r technology .Usingaf eministt heoreitca lperspecitvet of ocu sonhowKateand
s u s w o ll a y g o l o n h c e t e v it c u d o r p e r f o s t n e i p i c e r d n a s r e h t o m s a a i d e m e h t n i d e y a rt r o p e r a a y d a N
. y t e i c o s y b d e w e i v e r a s t n e m t a e rt y ti li tr e f n i e v i e c e r o h w n e m o w w o h e r o l p x e r e h tr u f o t
w y d u t s s i h t , y ll a n o it i d d
A li lallowust oexplorei nmoredetai lwhoours ocietyf eel sdeserve s
e c n a r u s n I .r e h t o m a e m o c e b o t s e v r e s e d o h w e r o f e r e h t d n a , y h w d n a s t n e m t a e rt e s e h t o t s s e c c a
j a m e h t ,s i h t f o e s u a c e B . s e t a t s t s o m n i y r o t a d n a m t o n s i s t n e m t a e rt y ti li tr e f n i r o f e g a r e v o
c ortiy
. t e k c o p f o t u o m e h t r o f y a p o t d r o f f a n a c o h w e s o h t e r a s t n e m t a e rt y ti li tr e f n i g n i v i e c e r e l p o e p f o
n a c t i m o r f ti f e n e b o h w e l p o e p e h t d n a y g o l o n h c e t e v it c u d o r p e r s w e i v y t e i c o s w o h g n ir o l p x E
e c n o c e g n a h c t u o b a g n ir b o t w o h d n a t s r e d n u r e tt e b o t s u p l e
h rningl awst hatr est irc taccesst o
. y g o l o n h c e t e v it c u d o r p e
w e i v e R e r u t a r e ti L
e r u tl u C r a l u p o P n i n e m o W f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e
R andMas sMedia
t n e r r u
C mediamessage sconcerningwomencanbeveryconfilcted .Meyers(1999)
g n it c e lf e r , d e r u t c a r f e r a e r u tl u c r a l u p o p d e t a i d e m n i n e m o w f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e r e h t “ , s n i a l p x e
” s e g a m i y r o t c i d a rt n o c n e tf o d n a e l p it l u
m (p .7) . Shearguest ha tcurrentr epresentaiton so f
n e m o
w canbedesc irbedas“fractured,t hei mage sandmessagesi nconsisten tandconrtadictory ,
d n a , d n a h e n o e h t n o s e l o r ri e h t d n a n e m o w t u o b a s n o it o n c it s i n y g o s i m , l a n o it i d a rt n e e w t e b n r o t
” r e h t o e h t n o n e m o w r o f y ti l a u q e f o s l a e d i t s i n i m e
f (Meyers ,1999 ,p .12) .
s a l g u o
D (1995)arguest ha tconrtadictoryi mage so fwomeni nmas smediaarebothpar t
f
o ou rhistoryandprevalentt oday:
s d a K l a i c e p S ; e g a r n i s t s if r u o e k a h s s u f o y n a m e d a m l li H a ti n A f o g n il li r g V T e h T
e m a h s n i s h g i h t r u o e d i h s u f o t s o m e k a
m …Ame ircanwoment odayareabundleo f
t n o
c radiciton sbecausemuchoft hemediai magerywegrewupwtihwa stisel f iflledwtih w
t a h w t u o b a s e g a s s e m d e x i
m omens houldands houldno tdo ,wha twomencouldand y
a d o t e u rt s i ti d n a s 0 6 9 1 e h t f o e u rt s a w s i h T . e b t o n d l u o
c . (p .9)
n
I GenderedMedia :Women ,MenandI denttiyPoilitcs ,KarenRos s(2010)explainst ha t
e h
t gainsf eminist shavemadei nt hepastf ewdecade sandani ncreasei nwomen’ seconomic
t a h t y a w e h t n i s e s n o p s e r y r o t c i d a rt n o c d e k o v o r p e v a h e c n e d n e p e d n
i contemporarymedia
t n e s e r p e
r women .Fo rexample ,as tudyi n1997f oundt ha twomeni nt hemediaaremore ilkely
y e h t n a h t s l a u d i v i d n i s a d e t n e s e r p e r d n a s e r u g if y ti r o h t u a s a n e e s , e c a l p k r o w e h t n i n w o h s e b o t
s e d a c e d t s a p n i e r e
w (Gill ,2007) .However ,manyoft hesewomenf tit hemoldoft he“new”
y ti n i n i m e f y x e
s –goingt ot heof ifcebu tbea irngconspicuou scleavagewhliedoings o(Ross ,
) 7 . p , 0 1 0
2 .Ross( 2010 )explainst hatt heolder ,moreobviousf orm sofs exismhavemutatedi nto
m r o f d e k s a m , e lt b u s e r o
n
I Posftemininiitesi nPopula rCutlure ,StephanieGenz(2009)alsoexplore st “ whe n e
y ti n i n i m e
f ” i ncurrentr epresentaiton so fwomeni nt hemedia .Shel ook satt heemergenceoft he
S
“ upergi lr”i npopula rmedia,s uchast hel eadingf emaler olesi nt hemovieMis sCongenialtiy
w o h s n o i s i v e l e t k r o w t e n e h t d n a ) 0 0 0 2
( Buffyandt heVampireSlayer( 1997-2003) .Sheexplain s
e v it i s o p m e e s n e m o w f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e r e s e h t y ll a it i n i e li h w t a h
t ,t he“Supergi lr” ai s ctually“a
e s o h w d n a e c a p s l a n o it o m e d n a l a i c o s c it a m e l b o r p a s ti b a h n i o h w a n o s r e p e ti s o p m o c y l x e l p m o c
d n a y ti li b a r e n l u v , y ti v it c a d n a y ti v i s s a p n e e w t e b y a l p s u o u n it n o c a e v l o v n i s n o it a c if it n e d i
” y ti l a n u m m o c d n a m s il a u d i v i d n i , h t g n e rt
s (p .33) .Genzarguest ha twhliet hi snew
, n e m o w r o f e v it i s o p s m e e s y ti n i n i m e f f o n o it a t n e s e r p e
r “ins omecase ,st hepromoitono fa‘ new’
e f f o s e d o m l a n o it n e v n o c o t n r u t e r e h t s e g a lf u o m a c y ti n i n i m e
f mininebehavio randappearance”
) 1 1 . p
( .
n
I TheCtiy ,TheSuburbs ,andStar sHollow :TheReturnoft heEveningSoapOpera ,
a d n i
L Beali(2009)alsoanalyzest henewr epresentaiton so fwomenbyl ookingatp irme-itme
s a h c u s s a m a r d o l e
m Sexandt heCtiy ,GlimoreGirls ,DesperateHousewives ,Grey’ sAnatomy
d n
a UglyBetty .She ifndst hatwomenont hesedramadie sareporrtayeda spowerfu landoccupy
s ,t n e d n e p e d n i e r a y e h T . e g a t s r e t n e
c uccessfu landhavef uflliilngcareers .Shealsopoint sou t
e h t h ti w y l p e e d e l p p a r g o t li a f y e h t “ , y ti l a u q e e m u s s a n e m o w f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e r e s e h t e li h w t a h t
t s i n i m e f f o t x e t n o c r e g r a l a h ti w t c e n n o c o t r o e c a f ll it s y a m p u o r g a s a n e m o w t a h t s a m m e li d
r o t s i
h yandpoilitca laciton”(p .112) .
e l c it r a r e h n
I Feminism :Deado rAilve ,AndreaStuar t(1990)claimst ha t“popula r
s n i a l p x e e h S . a i d e m e h t y b d e t a e r c g n i e b s i ” m s i n i m e
f t hatt hisf eminism“i saf eminism
groundedi nconsumpitona splay ,tii s‘ knowingand rionic, ’andi tcelebratesi ndividualtiy ,no t
” s c it il o p t o n e r u s a e l p , n o it c a e v it c e ll o
) 7 0 0 2
( oals i denit ife s“popularf eminism”i nmelodramasf eatu irngyoung,i ndependen twomen
. s t n e m n o ri v n e n a b r u n
i Sheexplainst ha t“suchs e ire sengager epeatedlywtihf eministi ssues ,bu t
e l y t s ,l u f y a l p , c i n o ri n a n
i -consciou sandambivalen tway .Feminism tisefli sseent obelongt o
t a h w ; t s a p e h
t characte irzest hepost-feminis twomano fpopula rcu tlurei si ndividuailsm ,
” e c i o h c d n a n o it a c it s i h p o
s (p .16) .
n
I Gende randt heMedia ,RosailndGli l(2007)explainst hatf eminismha salsohada
n i d e tl u s e r t o n s a h t c a p m i s i h t t u b , g n i s it r e v d a n i n e m o w f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e r e h t n o t c a p m i r o j a m
t s i n i m e f s e d a c e d r o F . t s i n i m e f d e r e d i s n o c e b d l u o c t a h t s d a y n a
m scholar shavei denit ifed
n e m o w f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e r t s i x e s r o f e ti s y e k a s a g n i s it r e v d
a (Gill ,2007) .Byt he1990s ,
s a l l e w s a y ti n i n i m e f f o s e g a m i e l b a n i a tt a n u r i e h t d r a w o t r e g n a s ’ n e m o w d e z i n g o c e r s r e s it r e v d a
d n i l a i c n a n if d e s a e r c n i ri e h
t ependence(Gill ,2007).I nr esponse ,adveritsersdevelopedwha t
n a m d l o
G (1992)r eferst oa s“commod tiyf eminism”o r“abidt oi ncorporatet hecu tlura lpowe r
d ‘ y l s u o e n a tl u m i s e li h w m s i n i m e f f o y g r e n e d n
a omesitcaitng ’ti sc iritqueo fadveritsingandt he
” a i d e
m (p .84) .
” y r a n i d r o “ d e w o h s t a h t n g i a p m a c e v o D 4 0 0 2 e h t s i m s i n i m e f y ti d o m m o c f o e l p m a x e n A
s d a s ti n i n e m o
w (Gill ,2007) .Thesead sinsisted“beautycomesi nmanys hape sands ize sand
s e g
a ”andclaimedt ounderstandwomen’ sdisrtes sa tnarrows tereotypesi nt hemedia(Gi ll ,
) 8 8 . p , 7 0 0
2 .Theyi ncludedanaddressf o rawebs tiewherewomencould ifndani nvtiaitont o
n e m o w g n u o y d n a e g a m i y d o b n o t r o p e r a , y t u a e B l a e R r o f n g i a p m a C e h t n i o
j ,andadiscussion
s e g a m i y d o b d e z il a e d i t u o b
a (Gill ,2007). G i ll(2007)explainst ha twhlieDoveclaimedt o
e h t m ri f d n a m il s o t s m a e r c g n il l e s f o y n o ri e h t “ , g n i s it r e v d a t u o b a s g n il e e f s ’ n e m o w d n a t s r e d n u
” e n o y r e v e y b d e s s i m t o n s a w y t u a e b l a e r r o f n g i a p m a c a f o k c a b e h t n o y d o
t s i x e l li t s s e p y t o e r e t s r e d l o e li h
W (Gill ,2007) ,news tereotype scoexis twtihthemi nt he
a i d e
m ands omeitmesi n lfuencet heris tyle(Gill ,2007) .Gill(2007)explainst hati ncontemporary
s d
a ,t he‘ wfie-mother-housewfie ’ha sbeenr eplacedwtihi mage so fcon ifdent ,ambiitous ,
n e m o w e v it r e s s a y ll a u x e
s :
, o g a s r a e y y t n e w t n e e b e v a h d l u o w y e h t s a e v i s s i m b u s d n a e n o r p , g n il i m s t o n e r a n e m o W
a s i t a h t y ti n i n i m e f f o e g a m i n a t n e s e r p d a e t s n i t u
b hyb irdofs of tpornandaciton
-o t e v i s s i m b u s m o r f … e v it c a o t e v i s s a p m o r f tf i h s e h t n i t u B . s e m a g r e t u p m o c e r u t n e v d a
y x e s … d e r e w o p m
e “babes”ares itlls elilngcars .(pp .111-112)
l li
G (2007)explainst hatr epresentaiton so fwomeni ncontemporaryad sarei ncreasingly
s s o R . y r e g a m i g n i y fi t c e j b o y ll a u x e s h g u o r h t d e t c a r f e r g n i e
b (2010)alsonotest hi schangeand
s it r e v d a w o
h er suse tit ot hei radvantage :
Oneoft hegreatt irumph soft headveritsingi ndusrtyi nt hecurren tdecadei sti scleve r v l e s m e h t n e m o w y b y ll a i c e p s e , s e i d o b s ’ n e m o w f o n o it a z il a u x e s e r e h t t a h t e c n e t s i s n
i es ,
e h t n i e c a l p d e c n a h n e s ’ n e m o w f o o s l a t u b t n e m e v e i h c a t s i n i m e f f o e c n e d i v e h t o b s i
d lr o
w .(p .62)
m o w e s i m o r p s d a y r a r o p m e t n o c y n a
M enpowe rfit heybecomeobject so fdesrie(Gill ,
) 7 0 0
2 .Theyappeart ogivewoment hechoiceo fbecomings exobjectst of u trhert hei rown
” d e t a r e b il
“ i nterest s(Gill ,2007 ,p .90) .Thesead sporrtays exualobjecit ifcaitonasf reelychosen
. n e m o w t n e d if n o c , e v it r e s s a y
b Gli l(2007)explainst hatt hi smake sc iritqueoft heobjecit ifcaiton
if fi d e r o m h c u
m cul tbecause tii ss eena schosenbywomen ,noti mposedonthem .
n e v
E mores igni ifcantt ot her epresentaitono fwomeni nadveritsingi st heongoing rtend
y h p a r g o n r o p m o r f s e ir a l u b a c o v d n a s e s o p , s m o i d i g n i w o r r o b f
o (Gi ll ,2007).I nWomeni n
g n i n a e M d n a s n o it a t n e s e r p e R : e r u tl u C r a l u p o
P ,Ma iranMeyer s(2008)explainst ha t
. t e k r a m l a b o l g e h t n i m r o n e h t s a d e t p e c c a y l g n i s a e r c n i s i y h p a r g o n r o p g n i m a e rt s n i a
m She
s m i a l
c t ha t“pornographici mage so fwomenandgi lr shavebecomeconvenitona lwtihin
” y t e i c o s d n a s l a u d i v i d n
i (Meyers ,2008 ,pp .19- )20 .Shefu trhe rexplainst ha tevenprogressive
g n it l u s e r e h t d n a y h p a r g o n r o p f o g n i m a e rt s n i a m e h t y b d e t c e f f a e r a n e m o w f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e r
s e i d o b s ’ n e m o w f o n o it a z il a u x e s r e p y
h .
s s o R d n a y lr e y
B (2006)explaint ha tpornographyhass eepedi ntot hemainsrteamo f
a i d e m f o s m r o f y n a
m .Thi srtendcanbes eenespecially inp irn tandt elevisionnew sast hey
s e r p t e k r a m o t e s n o p s e r n I .t n e t n o c y ti r b e l e c , r e t h g il o t s u c o f ri e h t e g n a h c o t e u n it n o
c sure sand
o t e c i v r e s c il b u p m o r f s e u l a v s ti d e tf i h s s a h s w e n y r a r o p m e t n o c , n o it it e p m o c g n i s a e r c n i
t n e m n i a tr e t n
e (Gill ,2007) .Gill(2007)explainst hat“thenewst hatr esutledf romt hesechange s
e m o c e b s a
h knownas‘ newszak ,’‘ bonkj ournailsm ,’i nfotainmen’t ,ors imply t‘abloidnews ’–
” d e z i d i o l b a t e m o c e b e v a h n o i s i v e l e t d n a o i d a r ,s s e r p e h t f o s n o it c e s ll a y lr a e n t a h t g n i e b a e d i e h t
) 2 3 1 . p
( .Thiss hi tff rompubilcs ervicet oconsumer-lednew sha scausedani ncreasei nt he
, s w e n f o n o it a z il a u x e
s includingt hef requenltyf eaturedpicture so fprovocaitvelyposed,s cantliy
s r e p a p r a l u p o p n i n e m o w g n u o y d a l
c (Gill ,2007) .
e h t o n
A rexampleoft hes exuailzaitono fnewsi st het endencyf ort hepresst oevaluateal l
n e m o
w –whethe rpo ilitcian so rpop-star s–byt heris exua latrtacitvenes s(Gill ,2007). Gli l
) 7 0 0 2
( explains ,“manynewspape redtiorss eemi ncapableo fp irnitngas toryf eatu irngawoman
” r o l o c r i a h d n a e g a r e h f o n o it p ir c s e d a t s a e l t a r o , s s e n e v it c a rt t a r e h f o n o it a u l a v e e m o s t u o h ti w
) 5 1 1 . p
( .Themediaalsovlifiywomenwhodono tconformt ot hei rphysicalr equriements:
T heviciousnesswtihwhichwomenareattacked fit heydono tmeett henormaitvemode s e t a K s s e rt c a d o o w y ll o H e h t n e v e … g n il li h c s i s s e r p e h t y b d e d n a m e d s s e n e v it c a rt t a f o
s r e h d n u o f t e l s n i
W efls ubjectt oattackbyt hepopula rpress :a tfers tar irngalongside m
li f e h t n i o ir p a C i d o d r a n o e
L Ttianic,s hewa sdubbed‘ TtianicKate ’ands ome w
o ll o f o t r e h r o f s n a l p t e i d d e t n ir p s r e p a p s w e
n .(Gill ,2007 ,p .116)
, n e m o w o t s e g a s s e m y n a m s d n e s a i d e m e h t h g u o h tl
A studie shaves hownt ha twomenare
s e g a s s e m e s e h t f o s r e v i e c e r e v i s s a p t o
t e n e B s e m a J d n a s l e i n a D e n e l e r A , n a m h c u
T (1978)s tudiedhowwomenwereporrtayedi nt he
, k o o b r i e h T . a i d e
m HearthandHome:I mage so fWomeni nt heMas sMedia ,explainedt ha tmas s
d e
m ias ymboilcallyannihliatedandt irviailzedwomenbydepicitngt hemi n rtadiitonals exr ole s
s m r o n t s i x e s e g n e ll a h c o t g n it c e l g e n d n
a (Tuchmane ta.l ,1978) .Bu ta smorer esearchwa s
fl e s t o n e r a s e g a m i e h t “ t a h t d e z il a e r s c it ir c t s i n i m e f , d e t c u d n o
c -evident ;womeni ndivergen t
g n it a e r c , y lt n e r e f fi d e ti u q w o h s e m a s e h t d a e r t h g i m s n o it i s o p y ti t n e d i l a i c o s r e h t o r o s s a l c , l a i c a r
” e n o c i n o m e g e h r o ’ d e r r e f e r p ‘ e h t g n it p o d a n a h t r e h t a r s g n i n a e m g n ir e w o p m e r o e v i s r e v b u s
) 0 0 1 . p , 9 0 0 2 , li a e B
( .I nWheretheGirl sAre :GrowingupFemalewtiht heMas sMedia ,Susan
s a l g u o
D (1995)discusse showc iritcalr eading so fmediamessage swereapar to fmakinghe rand
e h t s u e k a m d e p l e h a i d e m s s a m e h t s y a w f o y t e ir a v a n I “ . s t s i n i m e f n e m o w r e h t o f o s n o il li m
n e m o w , y a d o t e r a e w s c i n e r h p o z i h c s l a r u tl u
c whor ebe lagains tyets ubmtit oprevaiilngi mage s
” e b d l u o h s n a m o w e li h w h tr o w , e l b a ri s e d a t a h w t u o b
a (Douglas ,1995 ,pp .8- )9 .Whlies ome
h s ,s e g a s s e m a i d e m t s i s e r o t e l b a e r a n e m o
w eaddst hats omemessage sarehardert or esistt han
y tr o f a s t s i s n i t a h t s e n o e h t “ , g n i d u l c n i ,s r e h t
o -y -ear oldwomans houldhavet high silkeat welve
-r a e
y -oldboy’s ,andt ha tnos efl-respecitngwomans houldeve rhavewirnkles”(Douglas ,1995 ,
6 1 . p
p - )17 .Thesemessage sarehardert oi gnorebecausewomenhavebeent aughtt hatt heyare
g n i n if e d h ti w d e s s e s b o n e e b e v a h a i d e m s s a m e h t “ e s u a c e b d n a , d e z i n it u r c s e b o t s t c e j b
o —and
t a r e g g a x
e i —ng code so fmascuilntiyandf eminintiy,t heyhaveensnaredusi nanendlesss rtuggle
fl e s r e d n e g r o
f -de ifniiton”(Douglas ,1995 ,p .17).
e
M diaRepresentaiton so fMothers
c , n e m o w f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e r a i d e m y r a r o p m e t n o c e k i
L urrentmediar epresentaiton so f
n I .s l a e d i d n a s e g a m i g n it c il f n o c n i a t n o c s r e h t o
m TheMyth so fMotherhood :HowCutlure
, r e h t o M d o o G e h t s t n e v n i e
fl e s , e l b a d i m r o f o s e r a g n ir e h t o
m -denying ,elusive ,changeable ,andconrtadictoryt hatt heyare
n o p u s p a e h h t y m y r a r o p m e t n o c r u O . e l b a n i a tt a n
u themothers omanyduite sandexpectaiton s
” h tl a e h l a t n e m r e h o t s u o d r a z a h e b d l u o w y l s u o ir e s ti e k a t o t t a h
t (p .xv)i.
n
I Representaitonso fMotherhood ,DonnaBassin ,Margare tHoneyandMeryleKaplan
) 4 9 9 1
( explaint ha t“thepredominanti mageoft hemotheri nwhtieWesterns ocietyi st heever
-r e v e , l u fi t n u o
b -giving,s efl-sac ir ifcingmother”(p .2). Histo ircally, st hi i deologyoft hegood
n i t n e l a v e r p n e e b s a h r e h t o
m themas smedia .Manyr esearcher shavefocusedonhowwomen
.s e c n e ir e p x e e fi l n w o r i e h t h ti w e g a m i s i h t g n il i c n o c e r e l b u o rt d a h e v a
h Bassin ,Honeyand
n a l p a
K (1994)explaint hati nt he1950s ,whtiewomen“srtuggledwtihavisiono fanewmother ,
d li h c r e h f o e s o h t h ti w s d e e n e s e h t e li c n o c e r t s u m t u b , n w o r e h f o s d e e n s a h y lr a e l c o h w e n
o ”
4 . p p
( - )5 .Dougla s(1995)alsodiscusse showmother swereporrtayedi nt hemediai nt he1950s .
e h
S arguest ha tmother swere“simutlaneouslyr everedandl oathed” (p .54) .Mother sworked
d r a
h whliecommercial smade tis eemtha tmachine sdidi tal landtha t“housewivesl edal fieo f
e r u s i e
l ”(p .54) . Othe rmediar epresentaiton so fmother salsoconfilctedwtihwha twomenwere
l a e r n i g n i c n e ir e p x
e -lfie .Douglas(1995)explains ,“TVmom sdidn’ twork ,manyr ea lmom swe
. d i d w e n
k Wego tti ,evena skid ,st hatt herewa sabigdfiferencebetweenJ uneCleaver’ satttiude
a , d e ir r a h r e v e n s a w e n u J .s ’ m o M d n a e fi l d r a w o
t ndmymothe rwa salway sharired” (p .45) .
n
I MommyAngst :Motherhoodi nAmericanPopula rCutlure ,A Hnn al landMardia
p o h s i
B (2009)explorehowmother sarecurrenltyrepresentedi nt elevision ,news,f limandothe r
a i d e
m .Theyclaimt hatt heser epresentaiton s“attemptt oconrto lmotherhoodandmothers ,whlie
d o o h r e h t o m f o s n o it a t n e s e r p e r e l p it l u m g n it n e s e r p y ll a c i x o d a r a
p ”(p .x) .Hal landBishop(2009)
s e ir o t s e s e h t ,s r e h t o m t u o b a l l e t a i d e m s e ir o t s e h t n i y ti s r e v i d r e t a e r g a e ti p s e d t a h t e u g r a
t a h t n i a l p x e y e h T . d o o h r e h t o m f o s e i g o l o e d i l a c ir o t s i h e h t e c r o f n i e r o t e u n it n o
ideailzeandglamo irzemotherhood, thereforeminimizingt hechallengest ha tmanymothersf ace .
e s e h
T medianarraitve salsoconrtastt he“goodmother”andt he“badmothe .r”Badmother s
, e l g n i s e r a o h w e s o h t e d u l c n
i loweri ncome ,workoutsidet hehome ro dono tconformi ns ome
a
w yt o rtadiitona lgenderr oles .InSel ilngAnxiety :Howt heNew sMediaScareWomen ,Cary l
s r e v i
R (2007)addressest womoremediar epresentaiton sofbadmothers:t hedangerou smother
, n e r d li h c r e h s m r a h y ll a c i s y h p r o s t c e l g e n o h
w andtheweflaremother.
n
I TheMommyMyth :TheI dea ilzaitono fMotherhoodandHowI tHa sUnderminedAl l
n e m o
W ,SusanDougla sandMeredtihMichaels(2004)examinehowt hemediahavecreated
z il a e d i s i h t ll a c y e h T . e v e i h c a o t s r e h t o m r o f e l b i s s o p m i e r a t a h t s d r a d n a t
s aitono fmotherhood
m s i m o m w e n
“ ”andde ifnei ta s“as e tofi deals ,norm sandpracitce ,smostf requenltyand
t u b , d o o h r e h t o m e t a r b e l e c o t e c a f r u s e h t n o m e e s t a h t , a i d e m e h t n i d e t n e s e r p e r y ll u f r e w o p
h c a e r r u o y d n o y e b e r a t a h t n o it c e f r e p f o s d r a d n a t s e t a g l u m o r p y ti l a e r n i h c i h
w ” (pp .4- )5 . They
t a h t e u g r
a t henewmomismworkst oreinforceaconservaitveagenda ,makech lidcares olelya
r e h t o
m ’si ssue ,andmaker aisingchlidrenapersona linsteado fsociali ssue .Theyalsoexplain
t a h
t thenewmomismcreatescompeit itonbetweengoodandbadmotherswhliede ifningt he
r e p p u d n a e ti h w s a r e h t o m l a e d
i -class .
Themediahaveplayedacenrtalr oleinreinforcingthenewmomism .Int he1980s ,
e m a c e b d o o h r e h t o
m amediaobsession,andt hemediaconitnuet heriextensivecoverage of
y a d o t d o o h r e h t o
m (Dougla s&Michaels ,2004) “ . Womenhavebeendelugedbyanever
-y ll u f r e w o p t a h t g n it e k r a m d n a , g n i m m a r g o r p , e c i v d a a i d e m l a n r e t a m f o e d il s d u m g n i n e k c i h t
l e e f e w w o h , d e e d n i , d n a , s d i k n w o r u o h ti w s p i h s n o it a l e r r u o t u o b a l e e f s r e h t o m e w w o h s e p a h s
” s e v l e s r u o t u o b
a (Dougla s&Michaels ,2004 ,pp .6- )7 .Dougla sandMichaels(2004)explain
e li h w t a h
n i h ti
w thenewmomismi stobeat otallys el lfes smother .“Wemustl earnt opu tont he
g n it o d e h t f o e d a r e u q s a
m ,s efl-sac ir ifcingmothe randweari ta tal litmes .Wtihi ntensive
s e v l e s r u o h c t a w e w d n a , s r e h t o m r e h t o d n a s e v l e s r u o h c t a w e w , s u s e h c t a w e n o y r e v e , g n ir e h t o m
” s e v l e s r u o g n i h c t a
w (Dougla s&Michaels ,2004 ,p .6).
k c i n n i
K (2009)alsoi den it ifesmediaporrtayal soft hes efl-sac ir ifcing,i deailzedmother .
e h
S pointst or epresentaiton so fmother sons how silkeTheCosbyShowandFamliyTies .“These
, e l y t s d n a e s a e h ti w l l a t i g n i o d d n a , ll a t i g n i o d t a h t : m o m r e p u s e h t f o h t y m e h t d e l e u f s w o h s
s m o m n r e d o m r o f d r a d n a t s w e n e h t s a w t u b e l b i s s o p y l n o t o n s a
w ”(Kinnick ,2009 ,p .6) .These
show salsoreinforcet hei deat ha twomenneednoassistancef romt heworkplaceort he
d n a t n e m n r e v o
g tha tconvenience ssuchasf astf oodandmaids ervices ear unnecessary(Kinnick ,
) 9 0 0
2 .
o t n o it i d d a n
I these ifcitonals upermoms ,curren tmediar epresentaiton so fmothersalso
e d u l c n
i celebrtiysupermoms .Thecelebrtiymomprofliebecamepopulari nt he1980 sand
s 0 9 9 1 e h t n i s e n i z a g a m s ’ n e m o w d n a t n e m n i a tr e t n e n i y ti r a l u p o p n i d e s a e r c n
i (Dougla s&
) 4 0 0 2 , s l e a h c i
M .Dougla sandMichael s(2004)claimt hatt hecelebrtiymomprofliei s“themos t
, d e n if e r e r e w s e r u t a e f y e k s ti e r e h w d n a , m s i m o m w e n e h t ll e s o t m r o f a i d e m l a it n e u lf n i
d e z i c it n a m o r d n a , d e c r o f n i e
r ”(p .113) . Du irngt he1990s,women’ smagazine sconstanlty
“ d e r u t a e
f perfec,t‘ sexy’celebrtiymom swho’vehadbabies ,adoptedbabies ,beent os perm
r o , s e i b a b e r o m d a h , s g g e n e z o r f e h t d e h c t a h , e s u e r u t u f r o f s g g e r i e h t n e z o r f ,s k n a
b adopteda
e g a ll i v n a t e b i T l l a m
s ,allt os aitsfyt heri‘ babyl us ’t” (Dougla s&Michaels ,2004 ,p .8) .These
t a h t n i a l p x e s e li f o r
p t hecelebrtiyl ove sbeingamommuchmoret hanshel oveshe rwork ,he r
r o e m a
m o m y ti r b e l e c e h
T profliei spopulari ncurren tmediaa swell .Celebrtiymomproflie s
n i d n u o f e b y lt n e u q e r f n a
c PeopleandUsmagazine sa swel lasf eaturedi ns how silke
t r e t n
E ainmen tTonightandAcces sHollywood(Kinnick ,2009) .
f o s o t o h p d n a s w e i v r e t n
I celebrtiymom sandt hei rchubby-cheekedoffsp irngpaint an d
n a e s o p r u p w e n a g n ir a l c e d s r e h t o m h ti w , s s il b l a n r e t a m f o e r u t c i p d e z il a e d i
” s s il b “ d r o w e h t ,t c a f n I . e n u tr o f d n a e m a f y b d e h c t a m n u n o it c a f s it a s a , t n e m t n e t n o c
n i y l d e t a e p e r s r u c c
o t heheadilnesoft heses to ire .s(Kinnick ,2009 ,p .5)
t n e c e
R celebrtiymomproflie scanalsobefoundi nmainsrteamnew scoverage.River s
) 7 0 0 2
( explainst ha tmovies tar ,sr ocks tar sandyoungs ingersi ncreasinglyge tcoveragei nt he
s e g a p s w e
n .River s(2007 )descirbe showi nfotainmenti nt henewsi sa rtoubilng rtend: “The
e r a o h w n e m o w f o s e g a m i g n i w o h s y b , g n i s it r e v d a o t t h g i e w r e t n u o c a e b d l u o h s a i d e m s w e n
e t a c u d e , d e h s il p m o c c
a d,i nteresitng–evenast heyage—bu ta swe’ves een ,movies tarsr ouitnely
u e l b b o
g pf a rmorei nkt hans uchwomen”(p .7) .
r e h t o M d a
B s
o s l a a i d e m e h
T setupadichotomybetweengoodmother sandbadmother s(Kinnick ,
) 9 0 0
2 .Kinnick(2009)explainst “hat bothente trainmen tandnew smedianarraitvesf requenlty
i d o o h r e h t o m t s a
c nmoralt erms ,conrtasitngt he‘ good ’mothe rwtiht he‘ bad’mothe randt hu s
r o i v a h e b l a n r e t a m r o f s m r o n g n i b ir c s e r
p ”(p .9) .Goodmother saret hosewhoconformt o
e s m e h t e c if ir c a s d n a y ti r o ir p t s e h g i h r i e h t s a y li m a f ri e h t t u p , s e l o r r e d n e g e n i n i m e
f lvesf ort he
r e e r a c , e l g n i s n e tf o e r a s r e h t o m d a B . d o o g y li m a
f -d irvenands efl-centered .Theymayevenbe
l u ft c e l g e n s a d e y a rt r o
p anddangerou s(Kinnick ,2009 ;Rivers ,2007).
y a rt r o p a i d e m e h t e li h
W mar iredmother sa sgoodmother sands inglemother sa sbad
e h t s i r e h t o m e l g n i s e h t n a h t e s r o w n e v e , s r e h t o
m wliflullys inglemother ,o rsinglemotherby
choice(Kinnick ,2009) .Apopular,albei tdated,exampleo fasinglemothe rbychoicei sCandice
r e
n a m o
w decidedt ohaveachlid,t hes howdrewc iritcismf romconservaitves .ThenVice
m o r f t n e r e f fi d e r e w n w o r B y h p r u M e k il s r e h t o m t a h t d e u g r a e l y a u Q n a D t n e d i s e r
P thoset tha
e c n a t s m u c ri c h g u o r h t s r e h t o m e l g n i s e m a c e
b – .ie.t hedeseritono rdeathoft hei rhusband s– sa
e h T n o n e e
s P ra tridgeFamliy(Kinnick ,2009) .Hearguedt ha tBergen’ scharacte rmadea
” ’ e c i o h c e l y t s e fi l‘ t c e r r o c n i y ll a r o m
“ (Goren ,2009 ,p .160).
n w o r B y h p r u
M a a s whtie ,well-educated,s uccessful ,andweatlhywomanprovided a
r e h t o m e l g n i s e h t f o e r u t c i p t n e r e f fi
d ,whowa susuallyr epresenteda sal ow-incomeAf ircan
n a c ir e m
A (Goren ,2009) .Sheledt hewayf o ramoreposiitver epresentaitonofs ingle
w o n d n a , a i d e m e h t n i d o o h r e h t o
m singlemother sareusuallyporrtayeda smoregroundedand
d li h c a d a h y e h t e r o f e b n a h t e r u t a
m (Goren ,2009) .Goren(2009)explains ,“i ti scleart hatt he
l u
c tura lpresentaitono fmotherhoodha sadapted ,especiallys inglemotherhood .Sexandt he
y ti
C ’ sMriandaHobb sdidno tgett heMurphyBrown rteatment”(Goren ,2009 ,p .173) .
Whliethemedia’ sacceptanceo fMurphyBrowna sas inglemothe rwa sabreakthrough
e h t n i s r e h t o m e l g n i s f o n o it a t n e s e r p e r e h t r o
f media ,therei ss tli lal ongwayt ogo(Goren ,
) 9 0 0
2 . LikeM riandai nSexandt heCtiy ,curren tdepiciton so f“acceptable”s inglemothersi nt he
n w o r B y h p r u M r o r ri m a i d e
m i ni mpo tran tway .s sA Goren(2009)explains ,“theyareweatlhy
e v it n e tt a d n a e v it r o p p u s e v a h y e h t ; d li h c a t r o p p u s o t h g u o n e d e h s il b a t s e d n a h g u o n e
s d n e ir
f …andt heyaregenerallywhtie,s rtaight ,andoldert hant hi try”(p .161) .Singlemothersi n
o r p y ti r b e l e
c fliesf ollowt hiss amepattern ,wtihHollywood’ sunmar iredmother sapprovingly
s e n i z a g a m n i d e li f o r
p (Dougla s&Michaels ,2004) .Att hes ame itme ,Newsweekaritcle sitlted
y li m a F d e r e g n a d n E e h T
“ ”warnust hat“fo rmanyAf ircanAmeircan smar irageandchlidbea irng
” r e h t e g o t o g t o n o
m o m d e ir r a m n u n a g n i e b , e ti h w d n a , l u fi t u a e b , s u o m a
f i[s]waycoo.lI fyou[are]poo randblack ,
t
i i[s]degenerate ,theep tiomeo friresponsibli tiy”(Dougla s&Michaels ,2004 ,p .182) .
e h t o m g n i k r o w e h t s i r e h t o m ” d a b “ a f o e l p m a x e r e h t o n
A r(Kinnick ,2009) .The“famliy
c ir o t e h r ” s e u l a
v oft he1990sidenit ifedout- fo -wedlockbi trh sandhighdivorcer ate sa spar to f
. a c ir e m A f o e n il c e d l a r o m e h
t A sar esutl,s - ttay a -homemothersf u trhers rtengthenedt hei r
m ” d o o g “ s a n o it i s o
p others ,wh lieworkingmother swerei denit ifeda spar toft heproblem
) 9 0 0 2 , k c i n n i K
( . I nMediaandMiddleClas sMoms:I mage sandReailite so fWorkandFamliy ,
k a tt o K P d a r n o C d n a s e tr a c s e D a r a
L (2009)explain:
a i d e m y r a r o p m e t n o c n i s r e h t o m g n i k r o w f o y c n e u q e r f d e s a e r c n i e h t , d n a h e n o e h t n O
s e t a t S d e ti n U e h t n i s r e h t o m d n a s e v i w f o t n e m y o l p m e r e t a e r g f o t c a f e h t h ti w s d r o c c a
today .Ont heothe rhand,t hecutlura lmode lo fmotherhoodr emain smuchclosert ot he n o it a t c e p x e e h t s i d o o h r e h t o m f o l a e d i n a c ir e m A e h t f o t n e n o p m o c t n e t s i s r e p A . s 0 5 9 1
r e h o t d n e t x e s e c if ir c a s d e t c e p x e r e h ; n e r d li h c r e h r o f fl e s r e h e c if ir c a s n a m o w a t a h t
. s n o it a ri p s a d n a r e e r a c l a n o s r e
p (p .50)
t s 0 9 9 1 e h t n
I hemediacreatedabatltebetweenworkingands tay- ta -homemothers ,
t a h t g n i n i a l p x
e t heworkingmothe rviewedt hes tay- ta -homemothera silmtied ,bo irnganda
s r e t h g u a d r e h o t l e d o m e l o r r o o
p ,andt hes tay- ta -homemothers awhe ropponen tass el ifsh ,
tl i u g r e v e t a h w f o g n i v r e s e d d n a t u o d e s s e rt s ,l u ft c e l g e
n s hef el t(Dougla s&Michaels ,2004) .
s e i d u t s ,s r e h t o m f o s p u o r g o w t e s e h t n e e w t e b d e t s i x e e lt t a b a t a h t d e t s i s n i a i d e m e h t e li h W
t a c i d n
i edt ha tdu irngt hi sitmemliilon so fwomenwen tbackandf o trhbetweenworkingand
. n e r d li h c r i e h t h ti w e m o h t a g n i y a t
s Dougla sandMichael s(2004) explaint ha tfit hi swarr eally
, d e t s i x
e women“wouldhavet obej us ta smucha twa rwtiht hemselve sa swtihothe rmothers”
p
( .204) .
a s i ” k c a rt y m m o m “ e h
T nothermedia rtendt ha tfris tappearedi nt hel ate1980 sand
s 0 9 9
1 .Dougla sandMichael s(2004)explaint hatt hemommy rtackbegana s“storya tfers tory
s s e c c u s r e e r a c , s r e h t o m g n i k r o w r o f t a h t d e c n u o n n
r e tt a
m —wa sno talli twa scrackedupt eob ”(p .204) .Theses to ires,r eporitngt ha tmother swere
” e m o h f o s s il b c it s e m o d “ e h t o t e c a l p k r o w e h t m o r f g n it a e rt e r y l k c i u
q (p .204) ,couldbef oundi n
l a n r u o J e m o H s e i d a
L andTheWal lStree tJournal ,andt het hemewast hes ame :professional ,
t a s e it u d c it s e m o d g n il li fl u f e r o m e h t r o f e c a l p k r o w e h t g n i v a e l y li p p a h e r e w n e m o w l u f s s e c c u s
t a h t d e v e il e b y e h t e s u a c e b e m o
h doings owouldbebetterf ort hei rchlidren(Dougla s&
) 4 0 0 2 , s l e a h c i
M .
n a c d n e rt s i h
T alsobes eeni ncontemporaryf limandt elevisiondramadie sast hey
o t n i d e c r o f y l d e t c e p x e n u n a m o w l a n o i s s e f o r p , s u o it i b m a n a f o e n il t o l p e h t e s u y l d e t a e p e r
t n e m r e tt e b n w o r e h r o f d o o h r e h t o
m (Negra ,2009) . InNoReservaitons( 2007 )Cathe irneZeta
-s e n o
J play sanemoitonallyi solatedgourme tche fwhounexpectedlybecome samothe rby
s p l e h e o Z . e o Z d e m a n l ri g e lt ti l a g n it ir e h n
i h re rtansformi ntoaca irng ,warmperson,t herefore
n a m o r a o t n i r e t n e o t r e h g n il b a n
e cewtihaf ellowche fandulitmatelyearninghe rani deailzed
s e d u l c n i t a h t e fi l e m o
h givinguphe rcareer(Negra ,2009 ,p .66) .Simlia rplotilne swherewomen
f o r p r i e h t p u e v i
g essiona lambiiton sfo rmotherhoodcanbef oundi nthemovieRaisingHelen
s e ir e s n o i s i v e l e t e h t d n a ) 4 0 0 2
( Summerland( 2004-2005 )(Negra ,2009) .
n
I Op itngOu tMomsi nt heNews :SelilngNewTradiitonailsmi nt heNewMillennium ,
y r a
M Vavrus(2007)r eferst othi scurren trtenda s“opitngout. ”Vavru s(2007)analyzedopitng
f o g u t “ e h t d n a t n e m ll if l u f l a n o s r e p n o d e s u c o f y e h t t a h t d n u o f d n a 3 0 0 2 n i s e ir o t s s w e n t u o
” d o o h r e h t o
m asr eason swhywomenl eavet heworkplace .Therewa snomenitono fothe r
t o m g n i k r o w t a h t s e it l u c if fi
d hersf ace,s ucha sworkplacei n lfexiblitiy ,chlidcarei ssue ,sl ong
k r o
w -week so rgende rdiscirminaiton(Vavrus ,2007). nI Feminism,I nc. :Comingo fAgei nGir l
e r u tl u C a i d e M r e w o
P ,EmiileZaslow(2009)explainst ha trtendsi nr ecentr epresentaiton so f
n i s m o m g n i k r o
d n a s e v il k r o w d n a y li m a f ri e h t n e e w t e
b haveignoredt heworkforcediscirminaitont ha twomen
k r o w a g n i n i a t n i a m t a l i a f o h w n e m o w , tl u s e r a s A . e c n e ir e p x
e f/amliybalancearevieweda s
m e t s y s e v i s s e r p p o n a f o s m it c i v s a t o n , s n o i s i c e d d a b g n i k a
m (Zaslow ,2009) .Vavru s(2007)
t a h t s e d u l c n o
c byporrtayingt hedecisiont oworkors tay- ta -homea sachoicet ha twomenhave ,
o s t a h t y ti l a e r e h
t meoft hesewomenwerepushedouti si gnored .Kinnick(2009)f u trhe rexplain s
w t a h
t omenmaygiver easonst or epo trerst ha tmaket heml ook ilkea“good”motheri nsteado f
g n it ti m d
a the rtuthaboutt heris tiuaiton:
Thecutlura lpressuret obeperceiveda sa“good”mothe rmayl eadmotherst oemphasize r e h t a r ) y b a b f o e v o l e h t r o f ( e m o h g n i y a t s r o f n o s a e r t c e r r o c y ll a c it il o p e h t s r e tr o p e r o t
d e k c a l y e h t t a h t r o e b o t p u d e k c a r c s a w t i ll a t o n s a w r e e r a c a t a h t e g d e l w o n k c a n a h
t t he
g e n o t e c if f o e h t n i t u o l c l a c it il o
p oitatework-l fieaccommodaiton .s(p .14)
n
I WhataGir lWants :Fantasizingt heReclamaitono fSefli nPosfteminism ,DianeNegra(2009)
y b e d a m ” e c i o h c “ r e e r a c e h t s e s s u c s i
d EilzabethVargus,t henancho ro fABC’ sWorldNew s
t h g i n o
T .I nMay2006 ,a tfe rmovingf romco-anchort os oloanchor, Vargussuddenlyr esigned,
g n i n i a l p x
e tha the rdemandingj obwa saffecitnghe rpregnancyandf amliy .Shewa squotedi n
t s o P n o t g n i h s a
W ass aying ,“Fo rnow,t hi syear , Ineedt obeagoodmother”(Negra ,2009 ,p .3) .
s r o t a t n e m m o c y n a
M claimedt ha therr esignaitonwa sacover-storycreatedt o“save-face”
n o s b i G s e lr a h C y b y a l p r e w o p a o t t u o t s o l d a h e h s e s u a c e
b whoi nsistedonbecomings ole ,
r o h c n a t n e n a m r e
p oft hes how(Negra ,2009).
e m e rt x e t s o m e h
T exampleo f“b ”ad mother sint hemediaist hedangerou smother .
s r e v i
R (2007)explainst hat ,“Dangerou sMother sareacurren tobsessionwtiht henew smedia .
y r o t s l a c o l a y ll a c i s a b e r e w s r e h t o m y z a r c n e v e r o l u ft c e l g e n , e m it a n o p u e c n
O …today ,wtih24
-a b , t e n r e t n i e h t d n a s w e n e l b a c r u o
h dmotherss eemt obeeverywhere”(p .56) .Recen tdangerou s
a n il o r a C h t u o S f o h ti m S n a s u S e d u l c n i s e ir o t s r e h t o
m ,whowatchedhe rcarr olli ntoal ake
n w o r d d l u o w e d i s n i n e r d li h c e e r h t r e h t a h t g n i w o n
c y s p m u tr a p t s o p m o r f g n ir e f f u s e li h w b u t h t a b a n i n e r d li h c e v if r e
h hosis(Rivers ,2007) .These
s r e v i R . s r e h t o m t u o b a k n i h t e w y a w e h t d e g n a h c e v a h m e h t e k il s r e h t o d n a s e ir o t
s (2007)
w “ , s n i a l p x
e hliewes itl lilket oi deailzemommie ,ss uspicionha screpti n”(p .56) .
r e h t o n
A dangerou smothe rmedias toryi nvolves“crackbabies”bornt odrugaddicted
n e m o w r o o
p (Dougla s&Michaels ,2004) .Whlienew scoverageo fthese“crackbabies”wa s
e v i s n e t x
e i nt he1990s,r esearchs howednos uchr elaitonshipbetweencocaineusebypregnan t
g n o l d n a n e m o
w -termde ifcienciesi nchlidrenexisted .Unfo trunately,t hesecorrecitvestudie s
e g a r e v o c a i d e m o r e z d e v i e c e
r (Dougla s&Michaels ,2004) .Dougla sandMichael s(2004)
t a h t n i a l p x
e t heses to ire scont irbuteds igni ifcanltyt o“avigliantecutlurei nwhichmother shave
s r o w s ’ n e r d li h c r i e h t , y ll a it n e t o p , e r a y e h t e s u a c e b , d e c il o p y ll u f e r a c e b o
t tenemies”(p .170).
s r e h t o M g n i s s i M
t e li h
W hemediaideailzeandglamo irzemotherhoodanddrawdisitncitonsbetweengood
s r e h t o
m andbadmothers ,theyalsodevaluece traint ype so fmother sbyneglecitngt oporrtay
ll a t a m e h
t .Fo rexample ,event houghmosts ingleparentsi nt heUntiedState saremothers ,
s r e h t a f e l g n i s n o s u c o f n e tf o e r o m s e i v o m d n a n o i s i v e l e
t (Kinnick ,2009) .Kinnick(2009)
n i a l p x
e st hat“themessage ,accordingt ot hesemediaporrtayal ,si st ha tmomi sr eplaceable ,bu ta
” c i o r e h e r a e l o r s i h t ll if l u f o h w s d a d e l g n i s d n a , l a it n e s s e s i r e h t a f d o o
g (p .7).
g o r p n o i s i v e l e t n i e l b i s i v s i s m o m g n i s s i m f o d n e rt e h
T rammings ucha sHannah
a n a t n o
M andTwoandaHal fMen(Wo trhington ,2009).Al ong ils to fDisneymoviesf alit o
r e h t o m a e d u l c n
i i nt heris toryilne,i ncludingmorer ecentr elease silkeFindingNemo( 2003) ,
e lt ti L n e k c i h
C ( 2005 )andRatatouille( 2007), a swel la sclassicss ucha sTheLtilteMermaid
d n a ) 9 8 9 1
( Beautyandt heBeast( 1991)(Wo trhington ,2009).I nTheMotherles s"Disney
e r u t c i P e h t f o t u o s r e h t o M g n it e k r a M : " s s e c n i r
