Sexual Rhetoric

This work explores, through case studies and critical analyses, how media depictions affect the social construction of gender, sexuality, and identity. Through a combination of historical and contemporary topics, scholars examine the stereotypical portrayal of women and men and the contexts within which these stereotypes are illustrated. The studies also discuss the sociopolitical implications of symbols and images associated with these gender representations. Concrete references to particular media support both the methodological and theoretical approaches of the different essays. These quantitative and qualitative studies expose the myriad ways in which the media intervenes in our perception of popular culture.

Media and mass communication scholars will appreciate the many different media forms these essays encompass. The multicultural and gendered perspectives that comprise these writings will also appeal to students and educators of gender studies and contemporary rhetoric. Chapters are grouped in subsections that include newspaper, visual image in media, magazine, television, video, film, and cyberspace.

META CARSTARPHEN is Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of North Texas./e She is a member of the National Book Critics Circle, and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, for which she serves as Vice-Chair of the Minorities and Communications Division.

SUSAN C. ZAVOINA is Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of North Texas./e She is an award-winning photojournalist and is a member of the National Press Photographers Association and the Society for Photographic Education.