Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Sexy Sarah and a gorgeous, granny Governor-General?

By Rhyll Vallis - posted Monday, 13 October 2008


“Cute-but-feisty”, “the people's v-agra”, an “attractive young woman ... casting an erotic spell”.

Quotes from Ralph magazine talking about its latest centerfold?

No. Try instead the Canberra Times and Australian online news source Crikey discussing US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Advertisement

While some might be quick to write off the coverage of Palin as part of the circus sideshow that is US presidential campaign reporting, Australia's new Governor-General fared no better in our media.

In more than half of the 50 Australian news articles (online and print), writers felt compelled to describe the new Governor-General as either a mother or a grandmother.

With a firm finger on the pulse of what Australian readers want to know about politics, most journalists set us straight by the second paragraph about how many grandchildren she has.

Among the more condescending descriptions were “trail-blazing granny” by the Canberra Times and “New head of state Quentin Bryce still Grandma” by The Australian.

So what's it all about, this obsession with the “babes” and the “grannies”? And why haven't the “hairy-chested feminists” rumoured to lurk in every news room sorted things out yet?

Award winning journalist and lecturer Dr Julie Posetti says that news coverage of Palin and others confirms that there is still a tendency for Australia's media to ascribe restrictive definitions of womanhood to women in power.

Advertisement

“They are seen as either overtly feminine and attractive and therefore tolerable - or as blokey, masculine, ball-tearing and threatening,” she said. She also points to recent research findings that the feminisation of news rooms has not been accompanied by a shift in values.

“There's more women journalists but you still see traditional ways of framing the news. For example, the ridiculous amount of coverage of Palin's glasses or the obsession with the Governor-General's shoes,” she said.

Julie Baird in her 2004 book Media Tarts also singles out the media's use of formulaic accounts (which she labels “frames”) in portraying women politicians. Within these frames, women politicians are limited to being represented as “Cover Girls”, “Steel Sheilas” or “Superstar Housewives”.

  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

13 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Rhyll Vallis is a former university lecturer and researcher (in the area of sociolinguistics) who is currently studying journalism.

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 13 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy