Susan J. Douglas Books

"Today, celebrity culture is an inescapable part of our media landscape and our everyday lives. This was not always the case. Over the past century, media technologies have increasingly expanded the production and proliferation of fame. Celebrity explores this revolution and its often underestimated impact on American culture. Using numerous precedent-setting examples spanning more than one hundred years of media history, Susan J. Douglas and Andrea McDonnell trace the dynamic relationship between celebrity and the technologies of mass communication that have shaped the nature of fame in the United States." -- back cover

Now in paperback, the provocative book that has ignited fiery debate and created a dialogue among women about the state of motherhood today. In THE MOMMY MYTH, Susan Douglas and Meredith Michaels turn their 'sharp, funny, and fed-up prose' (San Diego Union Tribune) toward the cult of the new momism, a trend in Western culture that suggests that women can only achieve contentment through the perfection of mothering. Even so, the standards of this ideal remain out of reach, no matter how hard women try to 'have it all'. THE MOMMY MYTH skilfully maps the distance travelled from the days when THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE demanded more for women than keeping house and raising children, to today's not-so-subtle pressure to reverse this trend. A must-read for every woman.

Challenging societal norms, this book addresses the stereotypes of aging women, confronting the portrayal of older women as passive figures. It critiques the pervasive anti-aging culture that pressures women to resist the natural aging process. By highlighting the intersection of sexism and ageism, the author empowers readers to embrace their age and reject limiting narratives, fostering a sense of solidarity among those ready to challenge these cultural messages.