You've come a long way, baby?: A feminist rhetorical analysis of More magazine

Abstract

Past research has focused on the power of mediated artifacts to reinforce gender roles in girls and women. For decades, women's magazines have focused on an idealized representation of women in a male dominated socio-political system guided by patriarchal investments. Since 1998, More magazine has offered an updated version of this image to an over 40 female audience. This thesis explores normative gender expectations as conveyed in More magazine, paying specific attention to the tensions negotiated in the liminal space assigned to middle-aged women. This feminist rhetorical analysis of More argues that the magazine presents contradictory images of middle-aged women, especially as they relate to issues of feminine communication styles and the body.

Date of Award	2009
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	Eastern Illinois University
Supervisor	Suzanne Enck-Wanzer (Supervisor)