Girl health, girl power: Representations of "girl" health issues in contemporary mass media and the effect of the media on girls' health behaviors [electronic resource]
說明
442 p
附註
Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 63-05, Section: A, page: 1610
Adviser: Lynn Spigel
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Southern California, 2001
This dissertation examines representations of contemporary girls' health issues in the media. In doing so, it surveys some of the most used media by girls as well as addresses the health issues that most pervade girls' lives today. The guiding research questions deal with the following issues: (1) Which media forms are most influential in girls' lives today? (2) How do media representations of girls' health issues parallel the larger concerns in girls' lives today? (In what ways is girl health related to girl power?) (3) How does the media affirm the multiplicity of girls' identities while perpetuating insecurities? (4) How can the media be used as a powerful health educational tool? By looking at various media texts, primarily TV shows, Web sites, advertising, magazines, and books, this project examines the increasingly prominent role of girls in contemporary culture, youth and feminist scholarship, as well as in women's health issues. It considers girl power and subjectivity and the role of the media as health advisor. The primary health issues that are explored are related to sexual health and body image and beauty. I will demonstrate how girls' concerns revolve largely around self-esteem and standards of what is considered “normal,” the ways in which media images propagate ideal templates, and the ways in which media forms may be harnessed to send positive messages of health and image to girls in our society
