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Representation of Working Women: A Comparative Study of Feature Films in China and the U.S. from 2000-2019

Zhuang, Yuxi
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2283-8870
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1619196204339411

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Mass Communication (Communication).
Aiming at understanding gender representation and its transition in different cultural contexts and providing insights into the underlying beliefs and values within each society, this study examined the images of women, especially working/professional women, portrayed in top-grossing feature films from China and the U.S. in the past two decades (from 2000 to 2019). A two-step dual-approach content analysis was designed and conducted to make up for the limitation of the single content analysis method, emphasizing both the descriptive function of quantitative content analysis and the interpretive function of qualitative content analysis. With a 12-question pretested codebook, the quantitative analysis generalized the characteristics of female images in top-grossing films. The following in-depth qualitative analysis delved into the details of specific gender discourses in selected films. Out of the 200 cataloged top-grossing films, 79 leading female characters (43 from Chinese films and 36 from U.S. films) in 78 films (42 Chinese films and 36 U.S. films) were examined in the quantitative analysis section, 9 female protagonists in 9 films (5 Chinese films and 4 U.S. films) were analyzed in the qualitative sections. The findings indicated the complexities of gender representation in this global era. On the one hand, the statistical results revealed homogeneous female images concerning the protagonists’ age, physical attractiveness, relationships, socioeconomic status, sex-role behavior, and personality traits. On the other hand, the in-depth critical discourse analysis indicated the impact of dominant ideologies on gender representation in each society. The representation of female protagonists echoed the social transitions and feminist thought of the past two decades. From the perspective of gender representation, the globalized commercial media and culture industry, which brings conflict and integration between local and foreign cultures, complicates the mediated social and cultural contexts and the gender images presented on media.
Drew McDaniel (Advisor)
Wolfgang Suetzl (Committee Member)
Robert Stewart (Committee Member)
Erin Schlumpf (Committee Member)
245 p.
Film Studies; Gender Studies; Mass Communications; Mass Media
gender representation; working women; top-grossing films; cross-cultural comparison

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zhuang, Y. (2021). Representation of Working Women: A Comparative Study of Feature Films in China and the U.S. from 2000-2019 [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1619196204339411

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zhuang, Yuxi. Representation of Working Women: A Comparative Study of Feature Films in China and the U.S. from 2000-2019. 2021. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1619196204339411.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zhuang, Yuxi. "Representation of Working Women: A Comparative Study of Feature Films in China and the U.S. from 2000-2019." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1619196204339411

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1619196204339411
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.