Future of Feminism in Public Relations and Strategic Communication

Linda Aldoory is professor of communication and associate dean in the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Maryland College Park. She is also affiliate faculty member of the Department of Women’s Studies. Elizabeth L. Toth is professor emerita of communication at the University of Maryland and former chair of the department. She is also affiliate faculty member of the Department of Women’s Studies.

Aldoory and Toth collaborate to produce a comprehensive review of public relations literature using a socio-ecological model and a feminist lens. The well-organized book flows with precision through each level of the socio-ecological model and works toward closing the gaps and increasing understanding of feminism in public relations and strategic communication. Recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and practitioners.

• Section 1: Overview of the Book: Model and DefinitionsChapter 1: A Socio-Ecological Model for Public Relations and Strategic CommunicationChapter 2: The Backstory: Conceptualization and History of Public Relations and FeminismSection 2: Ideological Level: Social Norms, Hegemony, and MediaChapter 3: Ideological Level: The Overarching Power of Hegemony and Social NormsChapter 4: Media Level: Symbiotic yet Contested TerrainSection 3: Organizational Level: Issues and TheoriesChapter 5: Organizational Level: Their Role in Maintaining the Status QuoChapter 6: Organizational Level: Facilitating Inequity and MarginalizationSection 4: Professional Level: Discursive Legitimacy and Professional AssociationsChapter 7: The Professional Level: Questions of Legitimacy and ValueChapter 8: Professional Level: Interrogating Difference in Professional AssociationsSection 5: Practitioner Level: Lived Experience and IdentityChapter 9: The Practitioner Level: The Lived Experiences of Same and DifferenceChapter 10: Practitioner Level: Theory-Driven Approaches to Understanding IdentitySection 6: Dialogue and Future DirectionsChapter 11: Dialogue with Scholars and Practitioners: Co-constructing Meaning of the ModelChapter 12: Putting the Socio-Ecological Model to Use