Women in Public Relations: How Gender Influences Practice - Hardcover

Grunig, Larissa A.; Hon, Linda Childers; Toth, Elizabeth L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805854932 ISBN 13: 9780805854930

Publisher: Routledge, 2004

Synopsis

The past 20 years have seen an influx of women into the practice of public relations, yet gender-based disparities in pay and advancement remain a troubling reality. As the field becomes feminized, moreover, female and male practitioners alike confront the prospect of dwindling salaries and prestige. This landmark book presents a comprehensive examination of the status of women in public relations and proposes concrete ways to achieve greater parity in education and practice. The authors integrate the theoretical literature of public relations and gender with results of a major longitudinal study of women in the field, along with illuminating focus group and interview data. Topics covered include factors contributing to sex discrimination; how public relations stacks up against other professions on gender-related issues; the challenges facing female managers and entrepreneurs; the experiences of ethnic minority professionals; the salary gap; the glass ceiling; and how to foster solutions on individual, organizational, and societal levels.
 
This volume is an essential read for both educators and practitioners in public relations. It can be used as a course text in graduate research seminars, and also as a supplemental text in courses addressing gender issues in PR. It serves as a useful guide for young practitioners entering the profession, and provides critical insights for public relations managers.

About this title

About the Author:

Larissa A. Grunig, PhD, has been on the faculty of the University of Maryland, College Park, since 1978, where she is currently Associate Professor of Communication. Dr. Grunig was the 1989 recipient of the Pathfinder Award for excellence in research sponsored by the Institute for Public Relations. Cofounder and former coeditor of the Journal of Public Relations Research, she has more than 150 publications to her credit.

Elizabeth Lance Toth, PhD, is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Public Relations at the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University. Coauthor or coeditor of several books, Dr. Toth has published over 75 articles, book chapters, and papers. She received the 1998 Institute for Public Relations Pathfinder Award for her research on gender issues and public relations.

Linda Childers Hon, PhD, is Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator of Public Relations at the University of Florida, where she also holds a University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship. The author of a number of publications on public relations evaluation and gender and diversity issues in public relations, Dr. Hon is editor of the Journal of Public Relations Research.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

1. The Purpose of This Book Why This Book? Research Questions A Snapshot of Women in Public Relations A Few Words about 'Objectivity' PRSA's Initiatives on Women in Public Relations What Do We Mean by 'Women'? 2. Understanding the Issues Introduction to the Issues The Pay Gap Explaining the Problems The Feminist Fallacy Denial of the Problem Why the Feminist Fallacy and Denial of Gender Bias Persist Three Feminist Positions 3. Parallels with Women in Diverse Fields Women in the Professions Women in Blue-Collar Work Concluding Thoughts 4. Women in Management and Entrepreneurship Women in Business Management Power and Powerlessness Women Managing Their Own Enterprises Concluding Thoughts 5. The Promise of Diversity for Public Relations Why Study Racioethnicity in Public Relations? A Few Words about Another Underresearched Area: Sexual Orientation and Public Relations Cultural Diversity in Public Relations Women around the World Concluding Thoughts 6. African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans in U.S. Public Relations African-American Practitioners of Public Relations Asian American Practitioners o Public Relations Hispanic American Practitioners of Public Relations Concluding Thoughts 7. Credibility, Encroachment, Power, and Sublimation Credibility, Status, and Prestige Encroachment Power and Empowerment Sublimation 8. The Gender Gap in Public Relations Salaries Under the Glass Ceiling: An Analysis of Gender Issues in American Public Relations Where Else Can We Learn about the Salary Gap? Interpretation of the Gender Gap in Salaries Why Is the Salary Gap Such a Critical Issue 9. Public Relations Roles Evolution or More Complex Predictors in Evidence? Counterpoints on Roles and the Glass Ceiling The Glass Ceiling Research 10. The Glass Ceiling What Is the Glass Ceiling? Concluding Thoughts 11. Explaining Gender Inequality in the Work Place The Male-Dominated Work Place Women's balancing Act Gender Stereotypes Sexual Harassment and 'Lookism' Marketplace Factors Ageism Marginalization of the Public Relations Function 12. Liberal Feminist Strategies for Women's Advancement Buying Into and Working the System Developing Competence in Public Relations Demonstrating Professionalism Women Empowering Themselves 13. Feminist Strategies with Radical Intent Societal Reforms Organizational Reforms Reforms in Public Relations Men and Women Working Together 14. Final Thoughts Oppression as a Social Construct Women's Agency So Where Do We Stand? Future Directions for Research The Last Word Appendix: Research Design The Surveys Long Interviews with Female Practitioners Additional Focus Groups References Index About the Authors

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0805854932
• ISBN 13: 9780805854930
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 448