Constructing Girlhood through the Periodical Press, 1850-1915
Examining the evolution of feminine identities in Victorian magazines
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:28th Jul '12
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£49.99(9781138270848)
This insightful exploration of girls' periodicals reveals how they shaped and redefined feminine identities during a transformative era, particularly in Constructing Girlhood through the Periodical Press, 1850-1915.
In Constructing Girlhood through the Periodical Press, 1850-1915, Kristine Moruzi delves into the intricate world of British girls' periodicals during a transformative era. By examining six popular publications, she reveals how these magazines played a pivotal role in shaping and reshaping the concept of girlhood between 1850 and 1915. Amidst significant political, social, and economic shifts, these periodicals faced the challenge of creating a cohesive model of femininity, often reflecting the complexities and contradictions inherent in Victorian society.
Moruzi's analysis highlights the mixed-genre format of these periodicals, which allowed for the coexistence of various feminine ideals within a single publication. Each magazine, including the Monthly Packet and the Girl's Own Paper, sought to define distinct types of girls, such as the educated girl and the modern girl. This exploration reveals the ongoing debate about the nature of girlhood, showcasing how these publications provided a platform for girls to engage with the evolving definitions of their identities.
Ultimately, Constructing Girlhood through the Periodical Press, 1850-1915 illustrates the dual role of these periodicals in both reinforcing traditional values of purity and morality while simultaneously accommodating the changing realities of girls' lives. This nuanced examination invites readers to consider how the voices of young women were both shaped by and responsive to the cultural narratives of their time.
Semi-finalist, The Robert and Vineta Colby Scholarly Book Prize, awarded by the Research Society for Victorian Periodicals (RSVP), 2012 'An important contribution to girls’ studies, children’s literature, and periodical scholarship, Kristine Moruzi’s book provides a nuanced historicizing of the emergence of girls as subject, agent, target audience, and contested ground in relation to mass print culture.' Linda Hughes, Texas Christian University, USA 'Moruzi’s highly accessible text [...] reminds us that the Victorian dialogue about what girls were and could be was every bit as vibrant and conflicted as our own.' Childhood in the Past 'Constructing Girlhood through the Periodical Press, 1850-1915 was honoured as a semi-finalist in the Robert and Vineta Colby Book Prize for books published in 2012. The prize is judged by scholars who know the difficulties and benefits of working with periodicals, and the recognition of Kristine Moruzi’s work is a fitting acknowledgement of its careful methodology and thought-provoking conclusions.' Victorian Periodicals Review 'Historians will find this book of particular interest because it marks the increasing mobility and independence of girls in a shifting cultural milieu. Childhood studies students will find here a model for dissertations that dialogue culture and childhood. Literary critics will also enjoy the dialogue between fiction, columns, letters, and images in periodicals...' Children’s Literature Association Quarterly ’This book is a very valuable and thought-provoking contribution to the field of the periodical press studies, and a must-have for any researcher of Victorian and early Edwardian studies.’ Cahiers Victoriens et Edouardians ’Her analyses provide a wealth of information both on the magazines she discusses, and on the cultural climate' surrounding the topics in focus, and hence her study is definitely worth reading.’ Anglistik ’...for people interested in the early magazines f
ISBN: 9781409422662
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 612g
244 pages