Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female with the Mass Media
by Susan J. Douglas
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 347)
Read in January, 2007
This is a fascinating look at mass media from the 1960's-1990's, and the way it simultaneously portrayed, influeced, and responded to women throughout the women's movement. I think it's a valuable read, although I only gave it three stars, because it lacks the comprehensiveness that I expected from such a book. Many promising theories presented by the author need to be explained with more convincing data or more persuasive arguments, if the reader is to fully accept the conclusions she draws.
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Read in April, 2004
This is an extremely fun history book to read. Using a variety of sources including magazines, movies, music, advertisements, television, and newspapers, Susan Douglas analyzes how the media has depicted women from the 1950s through the early 90s. She places her analysis within the backdrop of larger events in women/gender history in the United States. This book shows how far women's role in American society has changed since the 1950s. I am in my early 20s and after reading this book I had a st...more
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I read this for a US studies class, and while it fit the curriculum well and was a fun, easy read, it wasn't very... academic? Too much based off personal experience and opinion. The woman is in academia, too, so I suppose that is a red flag.
There is this one chapter towards the end where she is talking about how the "80's work ethic" influenced the popularity of women showing off their hips and thighs in that era, "because getting great looking thighs is fucking impossible af...more
There is this one chapter towards the end where she is talking about how the "80's work ethic" influenced the popularity of women showing off their hips and thighs in that era, "because getting great looking thighs is fucking impossible af...more
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Read in February, 2008
This book was written over thirteen years ago, but it's not really that dated, unfortunately! That is, Douglas's critiques of the media from the 50s to the early 90s are still relevant today. I read Faludi's Backlash way back when it came out (c. 1992), so this felt like a return visit in some ways, although Douglas very early on, while clearly agreeing with some of Faludi's analysis, states that she does not believe the media is all anti-feminist all the time nor does she believe that th...more
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an excellent cultural history of the 1950s and 1960s, which argues that the media has explanatory power. for me, though, i enjoyed the read but had problems with many of the claims. douglas works closely with personal experience, which is questionable as valid evidence to many historians. maybe douglas threw stuff at the TV and became part of second-wave feminism, but maybe many other women just watched without much thought at all to the messages. hard to make a claim about how the media aff...more
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Read in June, 2008
An interesting and well written look at - as the title implies - women in pop culture. Douglas focused on the ERA for a couple chapters, something I am apparently not as familiar with as I previously thought.
My only problem with the book is that it's over ten years old. She briefly discusses Hillary Clinton's stint as First Lady (a First Lady who didn't obey the rules), and I would love to see what she thinks about (former) Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton. Not to mention all the ot...more
My only problem with the book is that it's over ten years old. She briefly discusses Hillary Clinton's stint as First Lady (a First Lady who didn't obey the rules), and I would love to see what she thinks about (former) Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton. Not to mention all the ot...more
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recommends it for:
the ladies.
This is a book to give to your girlfriends. I gave it to my mom.
Susan Douglas writes this book in a conversational manner making it a quick read jam-packed with figures and media analysis that fills in the link between the baby boom and now. Douglas illustrates how the American media acquired it's foothold during the feminist revolution to deeply unsettle the possibility for women to grow up with a clear-headed confident sense of self. She articulates each generation's struggles with t...more
Susan Douglas writes this book in a conversational manner making it a quick read jam-packed with figures and media analysis that fills in the link between the baby boom and now. Douglas illustrates how the American media acquired it's foothold during the feminist revolution to deeply unsettle the possibility for women to grow up with a clear-headed confident sense of self. She articulates each generation's struggles with t...more
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Read in January, 2000
A great easy-reading look at media culture and what it says about women and men, and how it impacts us. Even if you were already aware of gender stereotypes in the media, after reading this you'll never look at Disney movies quite the same way.
What sets this book apart from other "the media is horrible to women" books is that it also takes time to acknowledge the positives -- a whole chapter is titled "Why the Shirrelles Mattered."
What sets this book apart from other "the media is horrible to women" books is that it also takes time to acknowledge the positives -- a whole chapter is titled "Why the Shirrelles Mattered."
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Read in March, 2008
I especially enjoyed reading this book because Douglas covers the time I first became aware of women's liberation. Her insights about television news, comedies, movies is fascinating. When I felt that her own opinions weighed too heavily, I was usually persuaded by her extensive documentation. A good lens to revisit some of my experiences that were lived through with awareness that was not as clear as this thesis.
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Read in January, 2006
I was first introduced to this author in school, because she's the director of the communications program at Umich. I've heard her speak several times, and she is just great.
While this book focuses on a past generation, it gives insight into "why things are they way they are" now for women my age. It also has a strong emphasis on the media's influence of the concept of femininity.
While this book focuses on a past generation, it gives insight into "why things are they way they are" now for women my age. It also has a strong emphasis on the media's influence of the concept of femininity.
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Read in August, 2007
Very interesting, highlighted the tendency in women (which I often find myself doing) to state that they are not femiists, but agree with many feminist principles and ideas. This book deconstructed the way that "ideal" femininity and "undesirable" feminists have been portrayed in the media from the 50's on. If I ever have a daughter, this book will make me want to throw out my TV.
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Read in January, 2003
recommends it for:
all my girl friends
Non-fiction. Read this for a history class. Deals with how women have been portrayed in media. It'll make you hate pretty much every representation of women you've ever seen, especially June Cleaver and Disney cartoons, but then you'll get over it and be all the more enlightened for it. Mom's book group read this and they all loved it to.
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I found this book while browsing the "women's studies" section of Half-Price Books. It seems interesting enough and as far as I can tell from the first few pages, I like the writing style. When I got home I noticed a copy of it sitting on our book shelves. I guess someone I live with has read or plans to read it as well.
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Enjoyed this one a lot. A bit too much at times, but that may be because I had several classes like this in college. Overall, very good! If you've read this book - you should also see the show "Respect - A Musical Journey of Women" currently playing at the 14th Street Playhouse in Atlanta.
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Read in February, 2002
recommended to Lisa by:
Susan Douglasrecommends it for: Smart women
A scathing and humorous critique of how women are portrayed in the mass media. The author, Susan J. Douglas, was one of my college professors, and she's every bit as hilarious and irreverant as this book would imply.
A must-read for smart women everywhere.
A must-read for smart women everywhere.
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Great fun, especially if you enjoy the guilty pleasure of any of those three girls take on <fill in the blank> movies. My all time favorite is Suzy Parker, Hope Lange, and Diane Baker in The Best of Everything, which is a great trash read as well.
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Read in February, 2008
I enjoyed reading about the girl bands and the television shows. But I am not that much of a conspiracy theorist when it comes to feminism. It was interesting to note the changes and progress and such, but you get the idea after you read half the book.
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recommends it for:
Anyone
Another must read for women! Why are the Beatles more that just a boy band? This will give you a whole new perspective on women in popular culture in the second half of the 20th century. Empowering and informative and highly entertaining!
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Any one who is female and has had the joy of growing up in America should consider reading this book. It reads like a long research paper, but the author isn't trying to rally an army in her support. Very enjoyable.
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Read in January, 2000
A must-read for any woman who wants to feel proud of her female American ancestors, dismayed at the unequal treatment of women in America, or empowered by the thought that we could quickly vote in a female president...
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