What it means to be a girl: does the portrayal of women in film and the media shape who we want to be?

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Content

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GIRL: DOES THE PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN
FILM AND THE MEDIA SHAPE WHO WE WANT TO BE?

by

Lisa Nicole Holmes

A Professional Multimedia Project Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF ARTS
(PRINT JOURNALISM)

May 2010

Copyright 2010 Lisa Nicole Holmes

ii

Table of Contents

Abstract iii
List of Figures iv
Explanation of Project 1
Screen Shots of Each Section of the Website 7
Bibliography 106

iii

Abstract

Are we, as women, influenced by the women we see on the silver screen? Does
watching these character’s adventures unfold make us think differently about what we
want out of life? And what about the way the media portrayed the actresses who played
those characters? What was it like in the 1950s and 60s to go see a film where women
were bold, provocative, adventurous souls who did not always follow the rules society set
for them? Did it make women want to shake off some of those societal constraints? And
do films today influence women in the same ways?
These are questions the website “What It Means to Be a Girl: Does the portrayal
of women in film & the media shape who we want to be?” takes a look at in a
comparison of female characters in the 1950s and 60s with those seen on the screen
today. It is almost unquestionable that we as a society are influenced by the films we
choose to see. If they had no impact, if they did not touch some part of us, then we
wouldn’t watch them. Therefore a look at just what Hollywood has told girls over the
years about what it means to be a woman is definitely something to think about.
The site also features articles on the media’s coverage of actresses during the
1950s and 60s as fanaticism was growing into more of a common thing culturally and
links it with the explosion of media coverage of Hollywood’s young starlets today.
iv

List of Figures

Figure 1: Screen Shot of Home Page 7
Figure 2: Screen Shot of Home Page 8
Figure 3: Screen Shot of Home Page 9
Figure 4: Screen Shot of Home Page 9
Figure 5: Screen Shot of Home Page 10
Figure 6: Screen Shot of Home Page 10
Figure 7: Screen Shot of “Influence” Page 11
Figure 8: Screen Shot of “Influence” Page 12
Figure 9: Screen Shot of “Influence” Page 13
Figure 10: Screen Shot of “Influence” Page 14
Figure 11: Screen Shot of “Influence” Page 15
Figure 12: Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page 16
Figure 13: Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page 16
Figure 14: Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page 17
v

Figure 15: Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page 17
Figure 16: Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page 18
Figure 17: Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page 19
Figure 18: Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman”
Page 20
Figure 19: Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman”
Page 21
Figure 20: Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman”
Page 22
Figure 21: Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman”
Page 23
Figure 22: Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman”
Page 24
Figure 23: Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman”
Page 25
Figure 24: Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page 26
Figure 25: Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page 27
Figure 26: Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page 28
Figure 27: Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page 29
Figure 28: Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page 30
Figure 29: Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page 31
Figure 30: Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page 32
vi

Figure 31: Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page 33
Figure 32: Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page 34
Figure 33: Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page 35
Figure 34: Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page 36
Figure 35: Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page 37
Figure 36: Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page 38
Figure 37: Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page 39
Figure 38: Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page 40
Figure 39: Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page 41
Figure 40: Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page 42
Figure 41: Screen Shot of “Today” Page 43
Figure 42: Screen Shot of “Today” Page 44
Figure 43: Screen Shot of “Today” Page 45
Figure 44: Screen Shot of “Today” Page 46
Figure 45: Screen Shot of “Today” Page 47
Figure 46: Screen Shot of “Today” Page 48
vii

Figure 47: Screen Shot of “Today” Page 49
Figure 48: Screen Shot of “The Media and the Hollywood Starlet”
Page 50
Figure 49: Screen Shot of “The Media and the Hollywood Starlet”
Page 51
Figure 50: Screen Shot of “The Media and the Hollywood Starlet”
Page 52
Figure 51: Screen Shot of “The Media and the Hollywood Starlet”
Page 53
Figure 52: Screen Shot of “The Media and the Hollywood Starlet”
Page 54
Figure 53: Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page 55
Figure 54: Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page 56
Figure 55: Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page 57
Figure 56: Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page 58
Figure 57: Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page 59
Figure 58: Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page 60
Figure 59: Screen Shot of “Ingrid – What the Media Can Do to a
Career” Page 61
Figure 60: Screen Shot of “Ingrid – What the Media Can Do to a
Career” Page 62
Figure 61: Screen Shot of “Ingrid – What the Media Can Do to a
Career” Page 63
Figure 62: Screen Shot of “Ingrid – What the Media Can Do to a
Career” Page 64
viii

Figure 63: Screen Shot of “Ingrid – What the Media Can Do to a
Career” Page 65
Figure 64: Screen Shot of “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” Page 66
Figure 65: Screen Shot of “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” Page 67
Figure 66: Screen Shot of “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” Page 68
Figure 67: Screen Shot of “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” Page 69
Figure 68: Screen Shot of “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” Page 70
Figure 69: Screen Shot of “Modern Times From Britney to Miley”
Page 71
Figure 70: Screen Shot of “Modern Times From Britney to Miley”
Page 72
Figure 71: Screen Shot of “Modern Times From Britney to Miley”
Page 73
Figure 72: Screen Shot of “Modern Times From Britney to Miley”
Page 74
Figure 73: Screen Shot of “Modern Times From Britney to Miley”
Page 75
Figure 74: Screen Shot from “The Sources” Page 76
Figure 75: Screen Shot from “The Sources” Page 77
Figure 76: Screen Shot from “The Sources” Page 78
Figure 77: Screen Shot from “The Sources” Page 79
Figure 78: Screen Shot from “The Sources” Page 80
ix

Figure 79: Screen Shot from “Ingrid” Page 81
Figure 80: Screen Shot from “Ingrid” Page 82
Figure 81: Screen Shot from “Ingrid” Page 83
Figure 82: Screen Shot from “Ingrid” Page 84
Figure 83: Screen Shot from “Ingrid” Page 85
Figure 84: Screen Shot from “Jayne” Page 86
Figure 85: Screen Shot from “Jayne” Page 87
Figure 86: Screen Shot from “Jayne” Page 88
Figure 87: Screen Shot from “Jayne” Page 89
Figure 88: Screen Shot from “Jayne” Page 90
Figure 89: Screen Shot from “Kim” Page 91
Figure 90: Screen Shot from “Kim” Page 92
Figure 91: Screen Shot from “Kim” Page 93
Figure 92: Screen Shot from “Kim” Page 94
Figure 93: Screen Shot from “Kim” Page 95
Figure 94: Screen Shot from “Marilyn” Page 96
x

Figure 95: Screen Shot from “Marilyn” Page 97
Figure 96: Screen Shot from “Marilyn” Page 98
Figure 97: Screen Shot from “Marilyn” Page 99
Figure 98: Screen Shot from “Marilyn” Page 100
Figure 99: Screen Shot from “Scandal Rags” Page 101
Figure 100: Screen Shot from “Scandal Rags” Page 102
Figure 101: Screen Shot from “Scandal Rags” Page 103
Figure 102: Screen Shot from “Scandal Rags” Page 104
Figure 103: Screen Shot from “Scandal Rags” Page 105

1

Explanation of Project

For my project I decided to create a website titled “What It Means to Be a Girl:
Does the portrayal of women in film & the media shape who we want to be?” that looks
at the portrayal of women in film from the 1950s and 60s compared to today’s films. I
wanted to look at what women and girls learned about what it means to be a woman from
watching the women onscreen – in particular what made you a “good” girl vs. a “bad”
girl and what you were supposed to want from life.
In particular looking at the “good” girl vs. the “bad” girl got me to thinking a little
about the actresses who played them. I wanted to know how their portrayal in the media
affected their careers (if at all) and what affect the increasing publicity craze around them
had on their lives. Also, I decided to compare the media coverage of controversial
actresses in the 1950s and 60s to that of today – specifically looking at the scandal
magazine “Confidential” and comparing it to things like TMZ on the web today.
I decided to create a multimedia project because I felt the capability of adding
internal links, photos, video, and other visuals would really bring life to a project that
could turn into something dry and academic. I incorporated photos through Creative
Commons searches using the website Flickr and video from YouTube a timeline of the
rise and fall of “Confidential” magazine, and lots of links where people can find more
information on the people and things mentioned in the site.
2

In the following paragraphs, I’ll explore the contents of each page, explaining the
approach I took, resources used, why I chose the specific people I chose and what I hope
to convey through the site.
The Home Page
“What It Means to Be a Girl: Does the portrayal of women in film and the media
shape who we want to be?” This is the point of the whole site right in the title (see Fig. 1
– Fig. 6 in Screen Shots). Female characters have long been an integral part of
moviemaking, but rarely get the recognition they deserve. For many years women were
asked to portray one-sided characters onscreen – either “good” or “bad.” If they made
any choices seen as “immoral” then they must be “bad” women and were usually
punished in the end either by death or an eternity spent alone.
This idea of women having to fit a specific ideal seems to be an across the board
problem both onscreen, in the media coverage of the actresses, and in the lives of real
women. In fact, some of the films with women behaving “badly” were very popular with
the female audience possibly because it gave them the opportunity to play with the idea
of “what if.” Meaning what if they’d made different choices for their lives and had not
chosen to be a wife. Even though most films also set up marriage and family as the only
thing will ever make a woman truly happy.
In wanting to incorporate all of these things into one site where someone can find
information on the portrayal of women in film – particularly from the 1950s and 60s
3

compared to today – and also have a little about the media portrayal of the actresses who
played some of these roles and how that coverage affected their careers; again comparing
that to today. Therefore, on the home page there’s a link to a section called “Influence”
(see Fig. 7 – Fig. 11 in Screen Shots) and one called “The Media & Hollywood Starlets”
(see Fig. 48 – Fig. 52 in Screen Shots).
“Influence”
This section features articles covering women in the cinema. The first piece
“Introduction” (see Fig. 12 – Fig. 17 in Screen Shots) talks about the recent Oscar-
nominated film “Up in the Air” and the key female characters who are portrayed in that
film and what it says about women now. The next one entitled “Early Signs of the
Independent Woman” (see Fig. 18 – Fig. 23 in Screen Shots) talks about Bette Davis,
particularly the role she played in the film “Old Acquaintance” where her character was a
lifelong single woman who had a career and lovers and made no apologies for her life.
The third article “1950s” (see Fig. 24 – Fig. 32 in Screen Shots) covers the films of the
1950s and how women tended to be the good girl housewife or respectable working
single girl versus the bad girl who was single and fooled around with lots of men. This
article looks at the films “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “Lover Come Back” and “Pillow
Talk” looking at the characters played in those movies by Marilyn Monroe (“Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes”), Jane Russell (“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”), and Doris Day (“Pillow
Talk” and “Lover Come Back”). The article titled “1960s” (see Fig. 33 – Fig. 40 in
Screen Shots) explores films “Strangers When We Meet” and “If a Man Answers”
4

exploring the characters played by Kim Novak (“Strangers When We Meet”) and Sandra
Dee (“If A Man Answers”).
The final article “Recent Days” (see Fig. 41 – Fig. 47 in Screen Shots) looks at
“Mama Mia,” “It’s Complicated” and “(500) Days of Summer” exploring not only the
portrayal of women within those, but also the box office success of those movies. In
“(500) Days of Summer” the character Summer (played by Zooey Deschanel) is a very
modern, independent woman who seems to care nothing about the idea of getting
married. Yet by the end of the movie, she is married and that seemed like an interesting
point – that perhaps a very modern Hollywood is still selling marriage as ultimate
happiness for a woman.
“The Media & the Hollywood Starlet”
“The Media & the Hollywood Starlet” explores the ways media coverage
Hollywood actresses has impacted some of their careers and / or personal lives. The
articles in this section look at several actresses in particular and also at the scandal
magazine “Confidential,” which some see as the precursor to media outlets like “The
National Enquirer” or “TMZ” today.
The first piece in this section is simply titled “Confidential Magazine and
Beyond” (see Fig. 53 – Fig. 58 in Screen Shots). “Confidential” was created by Robert
Harrison in 1952 and ran under his control until 1958 when he sold the magazine.
Nothing was off limits as far as “Confidential” was concerned. The magazine reported
5

infidelities, outted gay people, and covered stories that would have just been considered
in bad taste to other publications.
The next article is about Ingrid Bergman. It is titled “Ingrid – What the Media
Can Do to a Career” (see Fig. 59 – Fig. 63 in Screen Shots). This piece covers the
scandal that nearly ended Bergman’s career when she had an extramarital affair with film
director Roberto Rossellini, divorced her husband, became pregnant with Rossellini’s
child, and then married him. Her marriage to Rossellini did not last and Ingrid’s fans
were willing to forgive her mistake. Although her career did not reach the same level she
had before the scandal.
The next article covers three actresses who were widely covered by the media in
the 1950s and 60s – Kim Novak, Jayne Mansfield, and Marilyn Monroe. Appropriately
titled “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” (see Fig. 64 – Fig. 68 in Screen Shots) the piece examines
the trouble stars sometimes get themselves into by attempting to manipulate the publicity
machine before realizing they cannot simply turn it off.
The final article in this section is titled “Modern Times: From Britney to Miley”
(see Fig. 69 – Fig. 73 in Screen Shots) and it looks at the media coverage of young
starlets today. This piece looks specifically at the amount of media attention that is
focused on Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Miley Cyrus. Comparatively it seems that
the sort of media coverage that was ethically questionable in the 50s and 60s has
exploded into an unstoppable entity to the point where one questions if the media isn’t
simply waiting for someone like Miley Cyrus to have a Britney-style meltdown.
6

In addition to these articles, I have included a “Sources” (see Fig. 74 – Fig. 103 in
Screen Shots) page featuring not only the resources I used, but also additional resources I
believe people looking at a site like this would be interested in. The bibliography found
in this document reflects the works I used to create the website including books, articles
from magazines and websites, and credit to those who posted the videos to YouTube.
The website can be found at http://womeninfilmandsociety.wordpress.com.

7

Screen Shots of Each Section of the Website

Fig. 1 - Screen Shot of Home Page
8

Fig. 2 - Screen Shot of Home Page

9

Fig. 3 - Screen Shot of Home Page

Fig. 4 - Screen Shot of Home Page
10

Fig. 5 - Screen Shot of Home Page

Fig. 6 - Screen Shot of Home Page
11

Fig. 7 - Screen Shot of “Influence” Page

12

Fig. 8 - Screen Shot of “Influence” Page
13

Figure 9: Screen Shot of “Influence” Page
14

Fig. 10 - Screen Shot of “Influence” Page

15

Fig. 11 - Screen Shot of “Influence” Page

16

Fig. 12 - Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page

Fig. 13 - Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page
17

Fig. 14 - Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page

Fig. 15 - Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page
18

Fig. 16 - Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page

19

Fig. 17 - Screen Shot of “Introduction” Page

20

Fig. 18 - Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman” Page

21

Fig. 19 - Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman” Page

22

Fig. 20 - Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman” Page

23

Fig. 21 - Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman” Page

24

Fig. 22 - Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman” Page

25

Fig. 23 - Screen Shot of “Early Signs of the Independent Woman” Page

26

Fig. 24 - Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page

27

Fig. 25 - Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page

28

Fig. 26 - Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page
29

Fig. 27 - Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page

30

Fig. 28 - Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page

31

Fig. 29 - Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page
32

Fig. 30 - Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page
33

Fig. 31 - Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page

34

Fig. 32 - Screen Shot of “The 1950s” Page

35

Fig. 33 - Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page

36

Fig. 34 - Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page
37

Fig. 35 - Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page
38

Fig. 36 - Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page
39

Fig. 37 - Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page

40

Fig. 38 - Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page

41

Fig. 39 - Screen Shot of “The 1960s” Page
42

Fig. 40 - Screen Shots of “The 1960s” Page
43

Fig. 41 - Screen Shot of “Today” Page

44

Fig. 42 - Screen Shot of “Today” Page

45

Fig. 43 - Screen Shot of “Today” Page
46

Fig. 44 - Screen Shot of “Today” Page

47

Fig 45 - Screen Shot of “Today” Page

48

Fig. 46 - Screen Shot of “Today” Page

49

Fig. 47 - Screen Shot of “Today” Page

50

Fig. 48 - Screen Shot of “The Media and the Hollywood Starlet” Page

51

Fig. 49 - Screen Shot of “The Media and the Hollywood Starlet” Page

52

Fig. 50 - Screen Shot of “The Media and the Hollywood Starlet” Page

53

Fig. 51 - Screen Shot of “The Media and the Hollywood Starlet” Page

54

Fig. 52 - Screen Shot of “The Media and the Hollywood Starlet” Page

55

Fig. 53 - Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page

56

Fig. 54 - Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page
57

Fig. 55 - Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page

58

Fig. 56 - Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page

59

Fig. 57 - Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page

60

Fig. 58 - Screen Shot of “Confidential Magazine and Beyond” Page
61

Fig. 59 - Screen Shot of “Ingrid – What the Media Can Do to a Career” Page

62

Fig. 60 - Screen Shot of “Ingrid – What the Media Can Do to a Career” Page
63

Fig. 61 - Screen Shot of “Ingrid – What the Media Can Do to a Career” Page

64

Fig. 62 - Screen Shot of “Ingrid – What the Media Can Do to a Career” Page

65

Fig. 63 - Screen Shot of “Ingrid – What the Media Can Do to a Career” Page

66

Fig. 64 - Screen Shot of “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” Page

67

Fig. 65 - Screen Shot of “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” Page
68

Fig. 66 - Screen Shot of “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” Page

69

Fig. 67 - Screen Shot of “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” Page

70

Fig. 68 - Screen Shot of “Jayne, Kim & Marilyn” Page

71

Fig. 69 - Screen Shot of “Modern Times From Britney to Miley” Page

72

Fig. 70 - Screen Shot of “Modern Times From Britney to Miley” Page

73

Fig. 71 - Screen Shot of “Modern Times From Britney to Miley” Page

74

Fig. 72 - Screen Shot of “Modern Times From Britney to Miley” Page

75

Fig. 73 - Screen Shot of “Modern Times From Britney to Miley” Page

76

Fig. 74 - Screen Shot from “The Sources” Page

77

Fig. 75 - Screen Shot from “The Sources” Page

78

Fig. 76 - Screen Shot from “The Sources” Page

79

Fig. 77 - Screen Shot from “The Sources” Page

80

Fig. 78 - Screen Shot from “The Sources” Page

81

Fig. 79 - Screen Shot from “Ingrid” Page

82

Fig. 80 - Screen Shot from “Ingrid” Page

83

Fig. 81 - Screen Shot from “Ingrid” Page

84

Fig. 82 - Screen Shot from “Ingrid” Page

85

Fig. 83 - Screen Shot from “Ingrid” Page

86

Fig. 84 - Screen Shot from “Jayne” Page

87

Fig. 85 - Screen Shot from “Jayne” Page

88

Fig. 86 - Screen Shot from “Jayne” Page

89

Fig. 87 - Screen Shot from “Jayne” Page

90

Fig. 88 - Screen Shot from “Jayne” Page

91

Fig. 89 - Screen Shot from “Kim” Page

92

Fig. 90 - Screen Shot from “Kim” Page

93

Fig. 91 - Screen Shot from “Kim” Page

94

Fig. 92 - Screen Shot from “Kim” Page

95

Fig. 93 - Screen Shot from “Kim” Page

96

Fig. 94 - Screen Shot from “Marilyn” Page

97

Fig. 95 - Screen Shot from “Marilyn” Page

98

Fig. 96 - Screen Shot from “Marilyn” Page

99

Fig. 97 - Screen Shot from “Marilyn” Page

100

Fig. 98 - Screen Shot from “Marilyn” Page

101

Fig. 99 - Screen Shot from “Scandal Rags” Page

102

Fig. 100 - Screen Shot from “Scandal Rags” Page

103

Fig. 101 - Screen Shot from “Scandal Rags” Page

104

Fig. 102 - Screen Shot from “Scandal Rags” Page

105

Fig. 103 - Screen Shot from “Scandal Rags” Page

106

Bibliography

“2010 Oscar Nominations Are…” 2 Feb. 2010. ABC News Video.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/2010-oscar-nominees-9725208

“(500) Days of Summer – Official Full Length Trailer.” Posted to YouTube 5 Mar. 2009
by FoxSearchlight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM&feature=player_embedded

“All About Eve.” Posted to YouTube 26 Jul. 2006 by ericfutral.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnr3AMCmJ3A&feature=player_embedded#

“All About Eve – Bumpy Night.” Posted to YouTube 2 Mar. 2008 by urinetownresearch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg-ckMup6SI&feature=player_embedded

Anderson, Consuelo. “Ingrid’s Forgotten Child.” Modern Screen May (1950): 28-29 &
75.

Basinger, Jeanine. A Woman’s View: How Hollywood Spoke to Women 1930 – 1960.
Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 1993.

“Bobby Darin in If A Man Answers (Trailer).” Posted to YouTube 2 Feb. 2008 by
bobbyfan64.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZA1-FRf_b8&feature=player_embedded

Brogdon, William. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” Variety. Date in Print 1 Jul. 1953.
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117791219.html?categoryid=31&cs=1

Casper, Drew. Postwar Hollywood: 1946 – 1962. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing,
2007.

Cieply, Michael. “Hollywood Grosses Shatter Record.” 27 Dec. 2009. The New York
Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/movies/28box.html?_r=1&scp=18&sq=It's
%20Complicated&st=cse

“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Trailer.” Posted to YouTube December 27, 2007 by
witchitaorpheum.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur9GKLl8v4U&feature=player_embedded

107

Lane, Laura. “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo, Who Will Be the First to Go?.” Photoplay 51
(1957): 38-41.

“Lover Come Back 1961 pt 2.” Posted to YouTube 14 Aug. 2009 by Daisies5060.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZaVcOF20es&feature=player_embedded

“Lover Come Back 1961 pt 7.” Posted to YouTube 15 Aug. 2009 by Daisies5060.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldFouEhPY74&feature=player_embedded

“Lover Come Back 1961 pt 9.” Posted to YouTube 15 Aug. 2009 by Daisies5060.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vISPUX0rmQ&feature=player_embedded

McCoy, Tracey Harrington. “The 12-Step Program for a Lindsay Lohan Comeback.”
PopEater. http://www.popeater.com/2010/02/13/12-step-program-for-lindsay-
lohan-comeback/

Peele, Stanton. “Up In the Air’: What America Movies Say About Our Sexuality.” 22
Dec. 2009. Psychology Today. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/addiction-
in-society/200912/in-the-air-what-american-movies-say-about-our-sexuality

Pelusi, Nando. “Neanderthink: Good Girls, Bad Girls.” 1 Nov. 2008. Psychology
Today. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200810/neanderthink-good-
girls-bad-girls

“Pillow Talk pt 5.” Posted to YouTube 6 Jan. 2009 by classicalltheway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcFvhg5d-MQ&feature=player_embedded

Scott, Henry E. Shocking True Story: The Rise and Fall of Confidential “America’s
Most Scandalous Scandal Magazine. New York: Pantheon Books, 2010.

Strait, Raymond. Here They Are Jayne Mansfield. New York: S.P.I. BOOKS
Shapolsky Publishers, Inc., 1992.

“Strangers When We Meet.” Posted to YouTube 15 Oct. 2009 by ColtraneNYC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQJ7Zo61r5s&feature=player_embedded

“Tween Angel.” 28 Apr. 2008. Vanity Fair.
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/06/miley_slideshow200806#slid
e=1

“Vincent Sherman on Bette Davis.” Posted to YouTube 4 Jul. 2009 by
BitterSweetxo13. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDbFofo__90

108

“Why We Love Mama Mia!.” 27 Nov. 2008. The Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/nov/27/women

Asset Metadata

Creator Holmes, Lisa Nicole (author)

Core Title What it means to be a girl: does the portrayal of women in film and the media shape who we want to be?

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

School Annenberg School for Communication

Degree Master of Arts

Degree Program Journalism (Print Journalism)

Publication Date 05/06/2010

Defense Date 04/01/2010

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag 1950,1960,actor,actress,film,Hollywood,Love,magazine,media,Money,movies,OAI-PMH Harvest,Power,romance,scandal,Sex,Women

Place Name California (states), Hollywood (city or populated place), Los Angeles (city or populated place)

Language English

Advisor Pryor, Lawrence (committee chair), Casper, Drew (committee member), Kotler, Jonathan (committee member)

Creator Email lnholmes68@gmail.com,starspell68@aol.com

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-m3012

Unique identifier UC1456083

Identifier etd-Holmes-3711 (filename),usctheses-m40 (legacy collection record id),usctheses-c127-337395 (legacy record id),usctheses-m3012 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier etd-Holmes-3711.pdf

Dmrecord 337395

Document Type Project

Rights Holmes, Lisa Nicole

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Repository Name Libraries, University of Southern California

Repository Location Los Angeles, California

Repository Email uscdl@usc.edu

Abstract (if available)

Abstract Are we, as women, influenced by the women we see on the silver screen? Does watching these character’s adventures unfold make us think differently about what we want out of life? And what about the way the media portrayed the actresses who played those characters? What was it like in the 1950s and 60s to go see a film where women were bold, provocative, adventurous souls who did not always follow the rules society set for them? Did it make women want to shake off some of those societal constraints? And do films today influence women in the same ways?