Preadolescent girls, media, and the presentation of self: a dramaturgical perspective
LE3 .A278 1999
1999
Sumarah, John
Acadia University
Master of Education
Masters
Counselling
Education
The purpose of this study was to examine how preadolescent girls view themselves and the influence the media have in their lives. A series of individual and focus group interviews were held with five nine- and ten-year-old girls to hear their stories. Erving Goffman's interactionist perspective of the theatrical performance provided the framework from which to study the lives of these young girls. The dramaturgical concepts of performances, teams, regions, and impression management were central to the thesis, and outlined how the five girls interacted with, and made sense of, their world and the role of the media in it. In addition, the dramaturgical metaphor was employed throughout the thesis itself. While there was very little literature which examines the ways in which preadolescent girls are influenced by the mass media, the girls offered testimonials which clearly indicate the power and influence wielded by media in manipulating young girls' perceptions of themselves.
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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2204