Date of Graduation
8-2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Communication (MA)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Communication
Advisor/Mentor
Ron Warren
Committee Member
Kasey Walker
Second Committee Member
Stephanie Schulte
Keywords
Agency, Gender, Humor, Television
Abstract
This study used content analysis to analyze gender representations in post-recession workplace sitcoms using a typology developed using Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. 100 episodes of programming were analyzed by five graduate researchers for a total of 2579 cases. Though men dominated the sample, results were dissimilar from previous findings within some of the literature on televised representations of gender. Findings indicated that need type for most commonly expressed needs were split fairly evenly by gender, but that less expressed needs were more polarized with regard to gender representation. Women also met their own needs more than men did, and had others meet their needs more than men, though men more often had their needs met by happenstance.
Citation
Bost, G. L. (2014). Gender, Humor and Quality of Life in Workplace Sitcoms: A Content Analysis Examining Agency in Post-Recession Situation Comedies. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2223