Date of Award

12-15-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Alexa Darae

Second Advisor

Dr. Carolyn Cunningham

Abstract

This research examines how feminism has been covered by mass media in general, and specifically how The Seattle Times portrayed the women’s movement in the 1970s. The fight for women’s suffrage in the early 20th century marks the beginning of the modern women’s movement for equal rights. Most young women today agree with many of the feminist ideals but reject the label. Because media have been proven to have a strong influence on public opinion, the question arises as to whether agenda-setting and negative media coverage are reasons for this disconnect. Using content analysis, this study analyzes print news media portrayal of the feminist movement by examining archived articles from The Seattle Times’ website to look for connections between feminism and a demonizing frame. Findings suggest that there has been neglect of the feminist movement in media, and that demonization of feminism occurs throughout print news media.

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