“Society” to “Style”: A Critical Analysis of the Evolution of Women’s News Sections in The Washington Post throughout the Twentieth Century
Open Access
Author:
Loraditch, Linsey
Area of Honors:
History
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Amy S Greenberg, Thesis Supervisor Jacob F. Lee, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Women's Section Washington Post Twentieth Century
Abstract:
The Washington Post’s women’s section took different forms throughout the twentieth century, including “Society”, “for and about Women”, and “Style”. “Society” was largely for a female audience, “for and about Women” shifted to discussing and publishing men more prominently, and “Style” represented women through advertisements and in syndicated or regularly appearing columns. On the whole, men would appear more in terms of the writing in “Style.” The content, reporters, and advertisements were distinct parts of each section that shifted with each iteration in these ways. The research explored in this thesis shows as the twentieth century progressed, the representation of women in The Washington Post’s women’s sections generally shifted from an audience that demanded gender-specific content to an advertising demographic.
