As a one-stop resource for understanding the participation and representation of women in US media, this book explores such areas as narrative film, scripted television programming, advertising, video games, news, and sports.

Coverage is wide-ranging and comprehensive, covering historical developments and trends as well as such relevant issues as gender disparities in pay and advancement opportunities, stereotypical gender portrayals in popular entertainment, sexual harassment in America's media and entertainment industries, and the dearth of positive media representations of women of color.

Engaging with this history and reading about current issues related to this topic will be useful to those interested in understanding more about why women's engagement in media – in such roles as performer, journalist, producer, and writer – is important. It will also help readers better understand how and why problematic media representations of women hinder efforts to achieve full gender equality in American society.