Title

Being a Feminist and Ironing One’s Sheets: Domesticity, Feminism and Martha Stewart

Publication Date

2013

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This study explores Martha Stewart fans' motivations for engaging domestic media. Contrary to the assumptions in textual analyses of Stewart's media products, participants primarily engage domestic media for its artistry, not escapism. Connecting cultural constructions of domesticity and feminism, this study also explores how feminism is contemporarily understood, as well as the connection between feminism and domesticity as it is manifested in popular responses to Martha Stewart. Overall, participants identified Stewart as feminist; fans were less willing to define Rachael Ray (Stewart's most direct American competition) as feminist.

Original Citation

McNaughton, M.J. (2013). Being a Feminist and Ironing One’s Sheets: Domesticity, Feminism and Martha Stewart. Ohio Communication Journal. 51, 237-255.

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