ABC-CLIO Women and Soap Opera: A Cultural Feminist Perspective

Women's soap opera viewing has long been thought of by feminists and nonfeminists as an unproductive waste of time. Blumenthal takes the opposing view, arguing that women's indulgence in these programs is actually liberating. In overcoming the social opposition to the stigma attached to the feminine content and style, and engaging in soap opera viewing, women celebrate their femininity, particularly their gendered identification with romance, relationality, intuitiveness, talkativeness, and other aspects of emotionality. This book will be of interest to academics in the areas of sociology, women's studies, and media studies. Review "With her book, Dannielle Blumenthal does for daytime soap operas what Janice Radway did for romance novels. Blumenthal takes a genre that traditionally has been undervalued by society, as well as communication researchers, and shows how soap opera viewing is an empowering activity for women. A strength of Blumenthal's work is the range of methods she applies to the study of daytime soap operas--content analysis, surveys of soap opera viewers, and analysis of open-ended comments from the viewers themselves. Blumenthal's analysis resolves some of the contradictions inherent in understanding the appeal of soap operas--how a genre that simplifies and trivializes some of women's concerns can empower women and be a feminist activity."-Elizabeth M. Perse Associate Professor, Department of Communication University of Delaware .,."provides a succinct synopsis of broad feminist issues and their impact on methodological and critical approaches that all readers can appreciate."-Popular Culture Association in the South Newsletter ?...provides a succinct synopsis of broad feminist issues and their impact on methodological and critical approaches that all readers can appreciate.?-Popular Culture Association in the South Newsletter ..."provides a succinct synopsis of broad feminist issues and their impact on methodological and critical approaches that all readers can appreciate."-Popular Culture Association in the South Newsletter From the Author It is empowering for women to watch soap operas. Soap operas and their viewers are generally devalued by society. This is because society overvalues masculinity and devalues femininity. Soap opera glorifies the feminine: romance, relationships, emotions, talkativeness, intuitiveness, and so on. By viewing and enjoying soap operas, women reclaim and celebrate their femininity. The act of celebrating femininity in a world which devalues it is empowering. The book also discusses the discomfort which many women feel at the term "feminist" and explores why that is, in the context of soap operas. It is argued that soap operas provide a comprehensive model of feminism--that is, emphasizing women's equal ability with men and also their special qualities--with which women are more comfortable. It is argued that women want to retain their femininity while achieving equality with men. Therefore they are uncomfortable with mainstream feminism, which is seen as antifeminine. The book covers other pertinent topics as well: the history of soap opera sc About the Author DANNIELLE BLUMENTHAL is a Ph.D. recipient from the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York.