I Love Lucy, That Girl, and Changing Gender Norms on and Off Screen, 1951-71
I Love Lucy, That Girl, and Changing Gender Norms On and Off Screen, 1951-71 Emilia Anne De Leo Candidate for Honors in History at OBerlin College Professor Clayton Koppes, Advisor Spring, 2018 2 Acknowledgements There are many people who have helped me immensely throughout the thesis writing process. I would like to thank my thesis advisor Professor Clayton Koppes for all the insight as well as moral support that he has provided me Both while writing this thesis and throughout my time here at OBerlin. I would also like to thank my thesis readers Professors Danielle Terrazas Williams and Shelley Lee for their comments on drafts. In addition, I want to thank the thesis seminar advisor Professor Leonard Smith for his assistance and for fostering a productive and kind environment in the thesis seminar. I owe many thanks to my fellow honors thesis colleagues as well. Their ideas helped me greatly and their encouragement kept me going. Finally, I need to thank my mom, Beth, my dad, Joe, and my Brother, Frankie, as well as my friends for the continued love and support they give me. When I needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh with they were and always are there to deliver, and for that I am forever grateful. This thesis is dedicated to my two strong and loving grandmothers, Joyce Manca (1937-2015) and Anna De Leo (1930-2017). 3 Introduction In July 1970, a Gallup poll asked men and women “Have you ever wished you Belonged to the opposite sex?” Sixteen percent of women said yes, while only four percent of men said yes.1 In that same year, Gloria Steinem wrote “Women don’t want to exchange places with men… Men assume that women want to imitate them… That is not our goal.”2 Why then, does Lucy Ricardo exasperatedly ask “can’t you just pretend I’m a man?” when a male teacher won’t teach her a comedy routine Because she’s a woman? 3 Both I Love Lucy (1951-7) and That Girl (1966-71) explore female identity through their respective protagonists, Lucy Ricardo and Ann Marie.
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