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East Tennessee State University

Pop Culture and Protofeminism: The Novels of Jacqueline Susann and the Second Wave of the Women's Movement.

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Disagreement over the label "feminist" continues to elicit debate within the feminist movement and in society. Some contemporary feminists see protofeminism in Jacqueline Susann's novels.</p> <p>This work investigates the support Susann's novels offered to the second wave of the feminist movement of the 1960s and the 1970s. A close reading of Susann's best-selling novels, Valley of the Dolls (1966), The Love Machine (1969), and Once is Not Enough (1973) was combined with a study of the author's biography, works by second-wave feminists, and reviews and criticism of the novels. Further evidence was gathered through research of the socioeconomic status of women during relevant periods and viewing the novels from the perspective of the feminist movement's second wave.</p> <p>Placing the novels in their historical and socio-economic context proved that these works did not offer support to the movement. Instead, they advocated women's continued status as oppressed citizens.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
MA (Master of Arts)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis - restricted
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
English
Year dc:date.issued
2001

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Jett, Heather N.

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright by the authors.

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/103
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-1153

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
East Tennessee State University
Base URL
dc.etsu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Jett, Heather N.. Pop Culture and Protofeminism: The Novels of Jacqueline Susann and the Second Wave of the Women's Movement.. Thesis - restricted thesis, 2001. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/103