Media Depictions of Brides, Wives, and Mothers, edited by Alena Amato Ruggerio, explores how television, film, the internet, and other media variously perpetuate gender stereotypes. The contributors to this volume bring a variety of feminist rhetorical and media criticism approaches from across the communication discipline to their analyses of how media shape our expectations of the performance of women's domestic roles.

Part 1. TelevisionChapter 1. Domesticating Matrimonial Monstrosity: Bridezillas and Narratives of Feminine Containmentby Alyssa Ann SamekChapter 2. The Reality of Televised Motherhood: The Personal Quest and Feminine Test of Kate Gosselinby Mary Frances Casper and Deneen GilmourChapter 3. Marriage, Friendship, and Scandal: Constructing a Typology of Media Representation of Women in Desperate Housewivesby Paula Hopeck and Rebecca K. IvicChapter 4. Ancient Archetypes in Modern Mediaby Deborah A. MaceyChapter 5. Christian Patriarchy Lite: TLC's 19 Kids and Countingby Christy Ellen Mesaros-WincklesPart 2. FilmChapter 6. Punishing Unfaithful Wives and Working Mothers: Messages of Postfeminism in Contemporary Filmby Erika M. ThomasChapter 7. Love and Lack: Media, Witches, and Normative Gender Rolesby Victoria L. GodwinChapter 8. Head Above Water: Applying Nussbaum's "Capabilities Approach" to Deepa Mehta's 2005 Filmby Lauren J. DeCarvalhoPart 3. News CoverageChapter 9. Feminine Style and Militant Motherhood in Antiwar Discourse: Cindy Sheehan as Grieving Mother and/or Left-Leaning Radicalby Heidi E. HamiltonChapter 10. Grisly Mama: Carnivorous Media Coverage of Sarah Palinby Alena Amato RuggerioChapter 11. "Stand by Your Man" Revisited: Political Waves and Scandalby Hinda MandellChapter 12. "Taking Care of the Children and the Country": Nancy Pelosi and the Trope of Motherhood in Partisan and Mainstream Mediaby Sheryl L. CunninghamChapter 13. Local Media Madness: How One City's Media Helped Perpetuate the Myth of the "Perfect" Coach's Wifeby Diana L. TuckerChapter 14. Who's Framing Whom? Michele Bachmann and the (Primary) Politics of Motherhoodby Ann E. BurnettePart 4. InternetChapter 15. Momtinis, Not Martyrs: Blogs that Recast Motherhood and Muted Groupsby Rita L. Rahoi-GilchrestChapter 16. Love Thy Mother? Discrepant Constructions of Motherhood in the "Outsmart Mother Nature with Tampax" Campaignby Dacia CharlesworthChapter 17. Taking the Audience Perspective: Online Fan Commentary about the Brides of Mad Men and their Weddingsby Lynne M. Webb, Marceline Thompson Hayes, Hao-Chieh Chang, and Marcia M. Smith