Listening while doing things: Radio, gender and older women | Intellect Skip to content
1981
Volume 18, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 1476-4504
  • E-ISSN: 2040-1388

Abstract

This article investigates the role of radio in older women’s everyday lives. Based on interviews with listeners in Britain and Germany, it argues that patriarchy structures women’s radio listening into old age. The women who participated in this study accommodated their radio listening to their role as housewives, deliberately choosing content that does not distract from their work and making sure they do not invade their husbands’ space with radio sound. Across their radio day, older women move in and out of different forms of listening, characterized by different levels of attentiveness. They enjoy radio as background noise to domestic labour, but they also use radio as a resource for identity work and a critical engagement with gender politics.

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2020-10-01
2024-04-29
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  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): ageing; domestic media; gender; listening; older women; radio
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