Gender, Sex and Gossip in Ambridge: Women in The Archers (The Academic Archers book set) - Softcover

Researchers working in areas ranging from philosophy to psychology to education in the UK, New Zealand, and Canada provide 14 essays that examine social, political, economic, and cultural issues in the radio show The Archers and its characters and how they support or challenge tropes of feminist or post-feminist lives. They discuss the informal networks of the women characters' talk and gossip as sites of power and resistance when men are in charge of more formal arenas; the gendered implications of the home in the show, including decisions about unexpected pregnancies and the underrepresentation of mental health problems; and gendered implications beyond the home as women in the show participate in the workforce, including in science, sports, and entrepreneurship, as well as whether the show reflects contemporary values on gender and sexuality diversity. Other essays share insights into the making of the show. -- Annotation (c)2019 * (protoview.com) *

The intrepid team of researchers who brought you Custard, Culverts and Cake: Academics on Life in The Archers return with a hard-hitting expose on the lives of the women of Ambridge. In this new book, the Archers Academics are joined by former The Archers editor, Alison Hindell and real-life Academic Archer Dr Charlotte Connor (a.k.a. Susan Carter), to examine the power of gossip in Ambridge, portrayals of love, marriage, and motherhood, female education and career expectations, women's mental health and the hard-won right of women to play cricket. Gender, Sex and Gossip in Ambridge gives the reader a deeper understanding of the real life issues covered in the programme, an insight into the residents of Ambridge, and validation that hours of listening to The Archers is, in fact, academic research.