The Bride Factory—Mass Media Portrayals of Women and Weddings

Engstrom (communication studies, U. of Nevada, Las Vegas) examines how the media portrays brides in modern American society, focusing on weddings in news stories, bridal magazines, and reality shows. She illustrates how these portrayals instruct women on the significance of the physical requirements of brides, namely the rules of the female body, beauty, and cosmetics, as well as feminist and feminine-related messages that show them as agents of control who also give in to traditionally feminine roles. She considers how mass media has depicted weddings throughout history; the development of the "white wedding" standard from its origins in New York society, with examples of famous brides and related media coverage; various types of media for brides; common themes and the feminist implications of wedding planning programs; media portrayals of women as they take on the role in terms of the dress, the female body, physical beauty, and perfection; the bride as actor and the role of men; alternative examples and exceptions to the rule; and recent forms of media that depict traditional and counterhegemonic weddings. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Erika Engstrom earned her PhD in mass communication from the University of Florida and teaches in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has published many articles related to wedding media.