Domesticating the Airwaves

This is a rich historical study of the complex and often problematic role that broadcasting has always played in constructing notions of gender and domesticity in British society. Maggie Andrews skilfully examines a number of radio and television programmes from the inter-war years to the present day which focus on domestic ideology and practice. She identifies a raft of cultural factors and, with compelling analysis, demonstrates how these have promoted marked changes to the tone, the style and the substance of broadcast programmes over the period. This is an important book for our time: telling insights about the way cultures both influence and are influenced by broadcasting cannot fail to appeal to anyone with a serious interest in recent British social, cultural and political history -- Dr Paula Bartley, author of Votes for Women
[T]he book remains challenging and consistently engaging. While Domesticating the Airwaves draws its case studies exclusively from British culture, it should have broad appeal to those interested in media and cultural studies, as well as feminist approaches to history. -- David VanderHamm, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill * MakeMag.org *