Abstract

This study utilizes textual analysis to study “Letters from the HQ” from the feminist publication Bitch Magazine, which started in 1996 and ceased operations in 2022. The feminist magazine focuses on social justice journalism and targets a feminist audience. The magazine’s goals included to "point out the everyday sexism of popular culture, propose alternatives, and celebrate pro-woman, pro-feminism pop products" (bitchmagazine.org). This exploration focuses on the modern feminist issues portrayed, including race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+ issues, politics, religion, and sexuality. The following research question is addressed: How did the dominant themes of Bitch Magazine reflect evolving political ideologies related to feminism and popular culture during its 26-year publication run? Dominant themes help explore and understand the evolving priorities of a feminist publication during a time of positive change, stagnation, and regression of women’s issues. Grounded Theory was used to uncover and explore themes of intersectionality, Feminist Standpoint Theory, and the evolution of feminist issues, offering a nuanced lens to explore the different ways representation and cultural narratives operate in a feminist publication.

Key Words: Feminist Publications, Textual Analysis, Intersectionality, Feminist Standpoint Theory, Grounded Theory.

About the Author

*Mackenzie Cato (Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), 0009-0007-6158-8978, is an Assistant Professor of Media and Entertainment in the School of Communication & Media at Kennesaw State University. Her research focuses on the representation of gender, race, and class in popular culture.

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 17, No. 1, April 2025, pp. 132-143.

© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

Article Citation

Cato, M. (2025). Textual analysis of the dominant themes of a feminist magazine in a period of social change. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 17 (1): 132-143.

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