Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Communication, Professional
Date of Award
5-2005
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
John M. King
Committee Members
Andy Lynch, Norma Wilson
Abstract
This research examined cover blurbs on popular men’s and women’s magazines and the messages they communicate to their readers about women. The content analysis looked at the covers of Esquire, Gentlemen’s Quarterly, Vogue, and Good Housekeeping from 1999 through 2003 to see what these magazines were cultivating and framing through their cover text during the time surrounding the new millennium. The women’s magazines examined promoted gendered messages, messages encouraging an idealistic or unattainable ideal of women, to their readers more so than the men’s magazines researched. There also appeared to be an increase of gendered messages in the men’s and women’s magazine sample as a whole from 1999 through 2003. In order to counteract these findings and for progress to be made during the current millennium, individuals working within the communication field must realize the power of the written word and make efforts to discourage the presentation of gendered messages.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Colson-Smith, Rhajon Noelle, "Look Younger, Lose 10 Pounds, and Influence Your Audience: A Content Analysis of Popular Men's and Women's Magazine Cover Blurbs and the Messages They Project to Their Readers." (2005). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1001. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1001
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.