Researching Media and Gender: Tools, Guidelines, and Ethical Reflections

This is not merely a book on methods; it is a toolbox designed to provide students with the critical guidelines and ethical reflections needed to conduct research on gender and media. It serves as an indispensable researcher’s companion, guiding them through every step – from selecting a research topic to drawing meaningful conclusions from their analysis.

The emphasis is on critical thinking and reflection in relation to inequalities, power, and privilege, encouraging readers to consider the consequences of research choices and guiding them through difficult dilemmas in relation to methods and ethics. With a focus on mass media, this book discusses a variety of methods and methodologies that can be used to study media representations, production, and consumption. Throughout, textboxes, references to further reading, exercises, and contemporary case studies help readers understand how to apply specific methodologies and methods in their research.

Researching Gender and Media: Tools, Guidelines, and Ethical Reflections is essential reading for any student interested in conducting research on gender and media, from undergraduate to graduate level. This book will also benefit instructors teaching research methods courses with a focus on gender and media.

Sofie Van Bauwel is a Full Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Ghent University, where she is part of the CIMS (Centre for Cinema and Media Studies). She has published widely on visual culture, gender, and media.

Tonny Krijnen is Associate Professor Media Studies at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, where she is part of DERIUS (Erasmus Research Institute for Media, Culture & History). She has published widely on popular culture, gender, morality, and media.