Abstract
All social groups live according to a variety of rules or social norms. In many societies, many of these norms govern female sexual behavior. This article explores the male voice and the potential governance of female sexuality in women's magazines. A ten-year textual analysis of two women's magazines targeted to different racial readerships revealed the strong presence of male authors in these magazines. Some of these male authors helped women to better understand men and build stronger relationships, but others attempted to govern the sexuality of women in a variety of ways.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartky, S. 1988. “Foucault, Femininity and the Modernisation of Patriarchal Power.” In Feminism and Foucault: Reflections on Resistance, edited by I. Diamond and L. Quinby. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
Becker, H. 1973. Outsiders. New York: Free Press.
Davis, George. 1986. “Come Out With Your Hands Up.” Essence 17(2): 113.
de Beauvoir, Simone. 1972. The Second Sex. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Foucault, M. 1978. The History of Sexuality: Volume 1: An Introduction. New York: Vintage Books.
Fine, Michelle. 1992. “Sexuality, Schooling, and the Adolescent Females: The Missing Discourse of Desire.” In Disruptive Voices: The Possibilities of Feminist Research, edited by Michelle Fine. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press.
Flax, Jane. 1987. “Postmodernism and Gender Relations in Feminist Theory.” Signs 12 (4):51–73.
Gross, Larry. 1991. “Out of the Mainstream: Sexual Minorities and the Mass Media.” In Gay People, Sex and the Media, edited by Michelle A. Wolf and Alfred P. Kielwassen. New York: Haworth Press.
Hindess, Barry. 1996. Discourses of Power: From Hobbes to Foucault. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishers.
Hoffnung, Michele. 1989. “Motherhood: Contemporary Conflict for Women.” In Women: A Feminist Perspective, edited by J. Freeman. California: Mayfield.
Kellner, Douglas. 1995. “Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism, and Media Culture.” In Gender, Race and Class in Media: A Text Reader, edited by Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez. California: Sage Publications.
Klein, Marty. 1993. “Am I Sexually Normal?” New Woman 23(5): 52.
Kurz, Demie. 1993. “Social Science Perspectives On Wife Abuse: Current Debates and Future Directions.” In Violence Against Women: The Bloody Footprints, edited by Pauline B. Bart and Eileen Geil Moran. California: Sage Publications Incorporated.
MacKinnon, Catherine A. 1989. “Sexuality, Pornography, and Method: Pleasure Under Patriarchy.” Ethics 99:314–349.
Mayall, Alice. Russell, Diana E H. 1993. “Racism in Pornography.” In Making Violence Sexy: Feminist Views on Pornography, edited by D. E. H. Russell. New York: Teachers College Press.
McNay, Lois. 1992. Foucault and Feminism: Power, Gender, and the Self. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
Miller, Patricia Y. and Fowlkes, Martha R. 1980. “Review Essay: Social and Behavioral Constructions of Female Sexuality.” In Women: Sex and Sexuality, edited by Catherine R. Stimpson and Ethel Spector Person. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Owen, Edwards. 1989. “Every Inch A Lady.” New Woman 19(6): 46.
Owen, Edwards. 1991. “What Makes A Woman A Good Lover?” New Woman 21(1): 53–54.
Pateman, Carole. 1988. The Sexual Contract. California: Stanford University Press.
Person, Ethel Spector. 1980. “Sexuality as the Mainstay of Identity: Psychoanalytic Perspectives.” In Women: Sex and Sexuality, edited by Catherine R. Stimpson and Ethel Spector Person. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Phelan, Shane. 1989. Identity Politics: Lesbian Feminism and the Limits of Community, Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Pringle, Rosemary. 1992. “Absolute Sex? Unpacking the Sexuality/Gender Relationship.” In Rethinking Sex: Social Theory and Sexuality Research, edited by R. W. Connell and G. W. Dowsett. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Rich, Adrienne. 1980. “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence.” In Powers of Desire: The Politics of Sexuality, edited by Ann Snitow, Christine Stansell and Sharon Thompson. New York: Monthly Review Press.
Robinson, Patricia Murphy. 1984. “The Historical Repression of Women's Sexuality.” In Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality, edited by Carole S. Vance, Boston: Routledge & Kegan.
Russell, D. 1988. “Pornography and Rape: A Causal Model,” Political Psychology 9 (1).
Sanday, Peggy. 1990. Fraternity Gang Rape. New York: New York University Press.
Santiago, Roberto. 1990. “Sex, Lust, and Videotapes.” Essence 21(7): 62–63.
Simmons, Martin. 1986. “Giving Up the Chase.” Essence 16(10): 68.
Smith, Dorothy E. 1990. The Conceptual Practices of Power: A Feminist Sociology of Knowledge. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
Smith, Ray. 1991. “They Call It Buppie Love—His View.” Essence 22(8): 117.
Steinem, Gloria. 1990. “Sex, Lies and Advertising.” In Gender, Race and Class in Media: A Text Reader (1995), edited by Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez. California: Sage Publications.
Vance, Carole S. 1984. “Pleasure and Danger.” In Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality, edited by Carole S. Vance. Boston: Routledge & Kegan.
Weedon, C. 1987. Feminist Practice and Poststructuralist Theory. Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers.
Wood, Julie T. 1994. Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender, and Culture. New York: Wadsworth.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Her current projects explore gender, race, and sexuality in media.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gadsden, G.Y. The male voice in women’s magazines. Gend. Issues 18, 49–57 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-000-0010-5
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-000-0010-5