Individual Presentation or Panel Title

Interpretations of Icons: An Analysis of Women from 1930-1960

Abstract

For my senior research I studied interpretations of female icons from 1930-1960. The goal of the research was to determine how women today viewed women from a past era, in terms of empowering or offensiveness. It also aimed to compare today's cultural representation of women with that of the past and to gauge the level change in terms of empowering or offensiveness. The project was tested through a qualitative survey with assistance of images. The hypothesis was that today's cultural depiction of sexualized women will make women of the past who were viewed as sexual seem more empowering. The opposite of the hypothesis was proven; those tested on Hollins' campus between ages 18-25 found the women shown who were more reserved were rated to be empowering and those who were researched as sexualized for their time were viewed as offensive.

Presenter Information

Alyssa Connatser, Hollins University

Location

Goodwin Private Dining Room

Start Date

21-4-2012 2:30 PM

End Date

21-4-2012 3:20 PM

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Apr 21st, 2:30 PM Apr 21st, 3:20 PM

Interpretations of Icons: An Analysis of Women from 1930-1960

Goodwin Private Dining Room

For my senior research I studied interpretations of female icons from 1930-1960. The goal of the research was to determine how women today viewed women from a past era, in terms of empowering or offensiveness. It also aimed to compare today's cultural representation of women with that of the past and to gauge the level change in terms of empowering or offensiveness. The project was tested through a qualitative survey with assistance of images. The hypothesis was that today's cultural depiction of sexualized women will make women of the past who were viewed as sexual seem more empowering. The opposite of the hypothesis was proven; those tested on Hollins' campus between ages 18-25 found the women shown who were more reserved were rated to be empowering and those who were researched as sexualized for their time were viewed as offensive.