'Where is she?': Women and Irish Television 1957-73

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship between women and television in Ireland during the long 1960s. It looks at the role of programming in its analysis alongside questions surrounding the status of women workers at the Irish national broadcaster Radio/Telefís Éireann. It begins with a discussion of the discourse surrounding women and television between 1957 and 1961, before the establishment of the Irish national broadcaster. This discourse within the press and political debates is notable for the absence of the discussion of women. The thesis then moves on to an analysis of women's programmes on the national broadcaster between 1962 and 1973. This analysis entails the reconstruction of lost programmes which illuminate the full range of Radio/Telefís Éireann's offerings during the period and highlights the dearth of women's programmes on the station. The thesis also examines soap operas at the Irish station using similar reconstruction methods which highlight both the unique nature of Irish soap operas and their similarities to soap operas as a genre internationally. Next, the thesis analyses the representation of women in current affairs programmes at the network, which represent the majority of programmes made by the Irish station. Finally, the thesis investigates the status of women at work at the station. This final section covers the range of women workers at R/TÉ from women in high ranking positions such as producer to women in lower ranking positions such as production assistant. It shows the variation in experience between women who worked at the Irish station. Taken together, the thesis paints a comprehensive picture of the relationship between women and television in Ireland in the 1960s. Moreover, it challenges the dominant narrative within Irish television history which characterises Radio/Telefís Éireann as an agent of change. In so doing the thesis argues that in regards to women the Irish national broadcaster reinforced, rather than challenged, the status quo of Irish society.