Document Type
Dissertation - University Access Only
Award Date
2008
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department / School
Sociology and Rural Studies
Abstract
Beginning in 1898 South Dakota State University's students produced an annual yearbook for more than a century before ceasing publication in 2001. As social artifacts these yearbooks provide an excellent lens through which to view the longitudinal development of gender display and generational expression. This content analysis study looks specifically at individual senior photos and candid pictures throughout the 97 yearbooks available for study. Using an adapted template of analytic criteria first suggested in Goffman's Gender Advertisements (1979) more than 25,000 senior photos are examined. Additionally 29,000 pages of yearbook content are reviewed for candid photos which have gender or generation-based content. The question of whether changes in gender display arise from individual choice or generational progression is discussed. Both men and women evidence a discernible trend toward gender display convergence in six of the ten appearance-based criteria and in both of the text-based criteria across the generations of students depicted in the yearbooks. Recommendations for additional research and refinements in research design are discussed.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
South Dakota State University -- Students -- Yearbooks
Gender identity
Identity (Psychology)
Content analysis (Communication)
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
218
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Wermedal, Douglas R., "It Was Once So : Gender and Generation in College Yearbook Photos" (2008). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1488.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/1488
