The Female Teacher on Television - (Education and Popular Culture) by Rebecca Z Grunzke & Andrew L Grunzke (Hardcover)

About the Book

This collection examines the representation of female teachers on television from the advent of the medium to the present day, providing insight into its evolution across both time and genre.

Book Synopsis

This edited volume examines the ways in which the representation of female teachers on television has developed from the advent of the medium up to the present day. Despite the widely feminized nature of the teaching profession, the first depictions of female teachers on television did not occur until over a century later. Contributors analyze a variety of programs spanning time periods, audiences, and genre to provide insight into the past, present, and future trajectory of increasingly multidimensional portrayals of female teachers. Scholars of television, media, gender, women's, and cultural studies will find this book of particular interest.

Review Quotes

"There is no cultural medium more accessible to the masses than television, and no profession more familiar to the masses than the teacher. It is not surprising that over the decades teachers have been the subject of television entertainment in comedic, dramatic, and animated series. This volume tackles the important question of how female teachers have been depicted in television shows. The chapters examine the question historically and cross-culturally. They offer compelling arguments about what these depictions reveal about our cultural understanding of schools, gender, and the teaching profession." --Robert C. Bulman, Professor of Sociology, Saint Mary's College of California, USA, and Author of Hollywood Goes to High School: Cinema, Schools, and American Culture (2015)

"Embedded in the history of teaching and popular culture, these essays offer powerful insights into the ways that modern television shapes our understandings of women's work in the classroom." --Kate Rousmaniere, Emerita Professor of Educational Leadership, Miami University, USA

"Andrew and Rebecca Grunzke's thoughtful collection of essays demonstrates how the portrayals of female teachers seen on screens only occasionally reflect what was actually taking place in classrooms. The popular movies and shows discussed in this volume are not just entertainment; they educate." --Jacob Hardesty, Associate Professor of Education, Rockford University, USA

About the Author

Rebecca Grunzke is Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Guam.

Andrew L. Grunzke is Associate Professor of Education at the University of Guam.