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Rebecca Feasey – Bath Spa University

Personal statement

I teach film and media communication and have published a range of work on the representation of gender in popular media culture. I have published in journals such as the Quarterly Review of Film and Video, the Journal of Popular Film and Television, Continuum, the European Journal of Cultural Studies, the Journal of Gender Studies, Celebrity Studies and Men and Masculinities.

I have written books on Masculinity and Popular Television (Edinburgh University Press, 2008), Motherhood and Popular Television (Anthem, 2012) and Maternal Readings of Popular Television (Peter Lang, 2016). The latter publication was chosen by the publisher to be converted to an Open Access e-book. My most recent book is Infertility and Non-Traditional Family Building: from Assisted Reproduction to Adoption in the Media (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019).

My current research examines the representation of infertility, abortion, fostering, adoption and surrogacy in a wide range of films, television genres, blogs, websites, newspapers and magazine media in order to illustrate the ways in which infertility, non-biological mothering and childlessness are being depicted in the mainstream media (Palgrave Macmillan 2019).

Academic qualifications

  • BA
  • MA
  • PhD.

Professional memberships

  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

External examiner roles

  • Southampton Solent University - Media, Arts and Society: 2011-2016.
  • The American College of Greece: Deree College - Cinema Studies: 2020-2024.
  • Anglia Ruskin University - Film, Media and Computer Games: 2021-2025.
  • Nottingham Trent University - Media Communications and Culture: 2021-2025.

External examiner roles for PhD

  • Deconstructing the dominant pregnancy script: a feminist analysis of pregnancy and parenting in contemporary British and American fiction, film, and on social media (University of Chester, UK)
  • Representations of fatherhood on popular television (University of Edinburgh, UK)
  • Postfeminist nostalgia and Hollywood cinema (Southern Cross University, Australia)
  • Toxic celebrity (Deakin University, Australia)
  • Male street dance crews on television talent show competitions (University of Surrey, UK)
  • The reproductive cyborg: representations of the maternal in science fictions films, 
    2000 - 2020 (Leeds Beckett University, UK)

Other external roles

  • Editorial Board of Celebrity Studies.
  • I routinely review and referee work on celebrity culture and representations of gender for publishers and journals such as:
    • Asian Journal of Communication
    • European Journal of Womens Studies
    • Feminist Media Studies
    • Journal of Popular Television
    • Men and Masculinities
    • Sage
    • Sociology Compass
    • The 49th Parallel
    • The Journal of American Studies
    • The Journal of Gender Studies
    • The Journal of Men's Studies.

Teaching specialisms

  • Gender in popular media culture
  • Stardom, celebrity and influencers
  • Motherhood and non-traditional family building
  • Feminist activism

Curated media playlists

I have recently curated a Box of Broadcasts (BoB) playlist titled 'Infertility and Non-traditional Family Building on Screen' on behalf of Learning on Screen which is available for BoB subscribers.

Research and academic outputs

Go to ResearchSPAce

Infertility and non-traditional family building: from assisted reproduction to adoption in the media
book

Feasey, R (2019) Infertility and non-traditional family building: from assisted reproduction to adoption in the media. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9783030177867

Mothers on mothers: maternal readings of popular television
book

Feasey, R (2016) Mothers on mothers: maternal readings of popular television. Peter Lang. ISBN 9783034318266

From happy homemaker to desperate housewives: motherhood and popular television
book

Feasey, R (2012) From happy homemaker to desperate housewives: motherhood and popular television. Anthem, London. ISBN 9780857285614

Masculinity and popular television
book

Feasey, R (2008) Masculinity and popular television. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh. ISBN 9780748627974

"I never want to lose a fight": masculinity, machismo and high-octane action in the 'Fast & Furious' franchise
book_section

Feasey, R (2023) '"I never want to lose a fight": masculinity, machismo and high-octane action in the 'Fast & Furious' franchise.' In: Gulam, J, Elliott, F and Feinstein, S, eds. Full-throttle franchise: the culture, business and politics of the 'Fast & Furious'. Bloomsbury Academic, New York, NY, pp. 157-174. ISBN 9781501378904

From 'The One' to 'John Wick': Keanu Reeves and the action genre
book_section

Feasey, R (2022) 'From 'The One' to 'John Wick': Keanu Reeves and the action genre.' In: Gerrard, S and Middlemost, R, eds. Gender and action films 1980-2000: beauty in motion. Emerald, London, pp. 199-212. ISBN 9781801175074

Tomboys, 'Annedroids' and the new normal
book_section

Feasey, R (2022) 'Tomboys, 'Annedroids' and the new normal.' In: Dymond, E.J, Harrison, J and Wells, H, eds. Reclaiming the tomboy: the body, representation, and identity. Lexington Books, Lanham, pp. 135-158. ISBN 9781793622945

Single dads in the entertainment arena: hegemonic hierarchies and happy endings
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Feasey, R (2021) 'Single dads in the entertainment arena: hegemonic hierarchies and happy endings.' In: Åström, B and Bergnehr, D, eds. Single parents: representations and resistance in an international context. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, pp. 113-131. ISBN 9783030713102

Fathers in the media
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Feasey, R (2020) 'Fathers in the media.' In: Ross, K, ed. The international encyclopedia of gender, media, and communication. Wiley, London. ISBN 9781119429104

Infertility and the barren woman
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Feasey, R (2020) 'Infertility and the barren woman.' In: Ross, K, ed. The international encyclopedia of gender, media, and communication. Wiley, London. ISBN 9781119429104

TV representations of mothers
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Feasey, R (2020) 'TV representations of mothers.' In: Ross, K, ed. The international encyclopedia of gender, media, and communication. Wiley, London. ISBN 9781119429104

‘Grease’, late teens and the twentysomething audience today
book_section

Feasey, R (2019) '‘Grease’, late teens and the twentysomething audience today.' In: Gruner, O and Krämer, P, eds. Grease is the word: exploring a cultural phenomenon. Anthem Press, London. ISBN 9781785271106

Star and genre: Hugh Grant and the romantic comedy
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Feasey, R (2018) 'Star and genre: Hugh Grant and the romantic comedy.' In: Vaida, K, ed. Celebrity for the curious high school & college students: why study celebrity, music, and film studies? The Curious Academic Publishing. ISBN 9781925128598

SheZow: costume changes and gender non-conformity
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Feasey, R (2017) 'SheZow: costume changes and gender non-conformity.' In: Reinhard, C.D and Olson, C.J, eds. Heroes, heroines, and everything in between: challenging gender and sexuality stereotypes in children's entertainment media. Lexington, Lanham, MD.

Television and the absent mother: why girls and young women struggle to find the maternal role
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Feasey, R (2017) 'Television and the absent mother: why girls and young women struggle to find the maternal role.' In: Åström, B, ed. The absent mother in the cultural imagination: missing, presumed dead. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9783319490366

Tweens and tween fashion
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Feasey, R (2013) 'Tweens and tween fashion.' In: Stange, M, Oyster, C and Sloan, J, eds. The multimedia encyclopedia of women in today's world. 2nd ed. Sage. ISBN 9781452270388

Beekeeper suits, plastic casings, rubber gloves and cling film: examining the importance of no-sex sex in Pushing Daisies
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Feasey, R (2012) 'Beekeeper suits, plastic casings, rubber gloves and cling film: examining the importance of no-sex sex in Pushing Daisies.' In: Johnson, B, Aston, J and Glynn, B, eds. Television, sex and society: analysing contemporary representations. Continuum, London. ISBN 9780826434982

The ageing femme fatale: sex, stardom, and Sharon Stone
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Feasey, R (2012) 'The ageing femme fatale: sex, stardom, and Sharon Stone.' In: Swinnen, A and Stotesbury, J, eds. Aging, performance and stardom: doing age on the stage of consumerist culture. Aging studies in Europe (2). LIT, Berlin. ISBN 9783643501875

Neo-noir's fatal woman: stardom, seduction and Sharon Stone
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Feasey, R (2009) 'Neo-noir's fatal woman: stardom, seduction and Sharon Stone.' In: Bould, M, Glitre, K and Tuck, G, eds. Neo-noir. Wallflower, Columbia. ISBN 9781906660185

Get a famous body: star styles and celebrity gossip in Heat magazine
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Feasey, R (2006) 'Get a famous body: star styles and celebrity gossip in Heat magazine.' In: Holmes, S and Redmond, S, eds. Framing celebrity: new directions in celebrity culture. Routledge, London, pp. 177-194. ISBN 9780415377096

Sex, controversy, box-office: from blockbuster to bonkbuster
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Feasey, R (2003) 'Sex, controversy, box-office: from blockbuster to bonkbuster.' In: Stringer, J, ed. Movie blockbusters. Routledge, London, pp. 167-177. ISBN 9780415256094

Sharon Stone, screen diva: stardom, femininity and cult movie fandom
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Feasey, R (2003) 'Sharon Stone, screen diva: stardom, femininity and cult movie fandom.' In: Jancovich, M, Reboll, A, Stringer, J and Willis, A, eds. Defining cult movies: the cultural politics of oppositional taste. Manchester University Press, pp. 171-184. ISBN 071906631X

Fop, bounder and post-feminist father: Hugh Grant and the changing face of modern masculinity
article

Feasey, R (2023) 'Fop, bounder and post-feminist father: Hugh Grant and the changing face of modern masculinity.' Celebrity Studies, 14 (1). pp. 66-82. ISSN 1939-2397

Conforming to or confounding the beauty myth: femininity, diversity and chromosomal disorders
article

Feasey, R (2022) 'Conforming to or confounding the beauty myth: femininity, diversity and chromosomal disorders.' Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies, 16 (4). pp. 423-438. ISSN 1757-6458

Celebrity miscarriage listicles: the help and heartache of mothers talking about pregnancy loss
article

Feasey, R (2022) 'Celebrity miscarriage listicles: the help and heartache of mothers talking about pregnancy loss.' Feminist Media Studies, 22 (6). pp. 1429-1446. ISSN 1468-0777

Meghan Markle and the royal pregnancy announcement: media mis/reporting of advanced maternal age
article

Feasey, R (2022) 'Meghan Markle and the royal pregnancy announcement: media mis/reporting of advanced maternal age.' Journal of Gender Studies, 31 (5). pp. 547-559. ISSN 0958-9236

Male factor infertility and the media: masculinity and the hegemonic hierarchy
article

Feasey, R (2019) 'Male factor infertility and the media: masculinity and the hegemonic hierarchy.' Viewfinder, 112. ISSN 0952-4444

Good, bad or just good enough: representations of motherhood and the maternal role on the small screen
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Feasey, R (2017) 'Good, bad or just good enough: representations of motherhood and the maternal role on the small screen.' Studies in the Maternal, 9 (1). p. 5. ISSN 1759-0434

Masculinit(ies) and the male celebrity feminist
article

Feasey, R (2017) 'Masculinit(ies) and the male celebrity feminist.' Men and Masculinities, 20 (3). pp. 283-293. ISSN 1097-184X

The hierarchy of celebrity childbirth stories
article

Feasey, R (2017) 'The hierarchy of celebrity childbirth stories.' Celebrity Studies, 8 (2). pp. 278-293. ISSN 1939-2397

'This is not how cancer looks': celebrity diagnosis and death in the tabloid media
article

Ashton, D and Feasey, R (2014) ''This is not how cancer looks': celebrity diagnosis and death in the tabloid media.' Journalism, 15 (2). pp. 237-251. ISSN 1464-8849

From soap opera to reality programming: examining motherhood, motherwork and the maternal role on popular television
article

Feasey, R (2013) 'From soap opera to reality programming: examining motherhood, motherwork and the maternal role on popular television.' Imaginations: Journal of Cross-Cultural Image Studies / Revue d'Etudes Interculturelles de l'Image, 4 (2). pp. 25-46. ISSN 1918-8439

A good day to die hard: age, action, and the masculine hard body
article

Feasey, R (2012) 'A good day to die hard: age, action, and the masculine hard body.' Flow, 15 (10).

The blurring of fame and talent: female celebrity and the glossy gossip sector
article

Feasey, R (2012) 'The blurring of fame and talent: female celebrity and the glossy gossip sector.' Flow, 15 (6).

Absent, ineffectual and intoxicated mothers: representing the maternal in teen television
article

Feasey, R (2012) 'Absent, ineffectual and intoxicated mothers: representing the maternal in teen television.' Feminist Media Studies, 12 (1). pp. 155-159. ISSN 1468-0777

Mothers on the naughty step: Supernanny and reality parenting television
article

Feasey, R (2011) 'Mothers on the naughty step: Supernanny and reality parenting television.' Flow, 15 (3).

Mature masculinity and the ageing action hero
article

Feasey, R (2011) 'Mature masculinity and the ageing action hero.' Groniek, 190. pp. 507-520. ISSN 0169-2801

Anxiety, helplessness and 'adultescence': examining the appeal of teen drama for the young adult audience
article

Feasey, R (2009) 'Anxiety, helplessness and 'adultescence': examining the appeal of teen drama for the young adult audience.' European Journal of Cultural Studies, 12 (4). pp. 431-446. ISSN 1367-5494

Spray more, get more: masculinity, television advertising and the Lynx effect
article

Feasey, R (2009) 'Spray more, get more: masculinity, television advertising and the Lynx effect.' Journal of Gender Studies, 18 (4). pp. 357-368. ISSN 0958-9236

Reading Heat: the meanings and pleasures of star fashions and celebrity gossip
article

Feasey, R (2008) 'Reading Heat: the meanings and pleasures of star fashions and celebrity gossip.' Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies, 22 (5). pp. 687-699. ISSN 1030-4312

Investigating Angel: the hair, the car and the wardrobe
article

Feasey, R (2007) 'Investigating Angel: the hair, the car and the wardrobe.' Intensities: The Journal of Cult Media, 4. ISSN 1471-5031

Charmed: why teen television appeals to women
article

Feasey, R (2006) 'Charmed: why teen television appeals to women.' Journal of Popular Film and Television, 34 (1). pp. 2-9. ISSN 1930-6458

The 'Charmed' audience: gender and the politics of contemporary culture
article

Feasey, R (2005) 'The 'Charmed' audience: gender and the politics of contemporary culture.' Spectator: The University of Southern California Journal of Film & Television, 25 (2). pp. 39-48. ISSN 1051-0230

Stardom and distinction: Sharon Stone and the problem of legitimacy
article

Feasey, R (2004) 'Stardom and distinction: Sharon Stone and the problem of legitimacy.' Scope, May. ISSN 1465-9166

Stardom and Sharon Stone: power as masquerade
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Feasey, R (2004) 'Stardom and Sharon Stone: power as masquerade.' Quarterly Review of Film and Video, 21 (3). pp. 199-207. ISSN 1050-9208

Why media representations matter: motherhood, infertility and loss
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Feasey, R (2022) Why media representations matter: motherhood, infertility and loss. In: Motherhoods on Screen: Global Perspectives, 23 - 24 September 2022, Maynooth University, Ireland.

Pregnancy age shaming: fertility and the Royal pregnancy
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Feasey, R (2019) Pregnancy age shaming: fertility and the Royal pregnancy. In: Oxford Brookes University Symposium: Meghan Markle and the British Royal Family, 15 November 2019, Conway Hall, London, UK.

Maternal readings of childbirth on screen
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Feasey, R (2016) Maternal readings of childbirth on screen. In: Televising Childbirth Seminar Series, 21 September 2016, University of Nottingham,.

Motherhood and popular television
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Feasey, R (2015) Motherhood and popular television. In: Womb to World: Birthlight Conference, 19 September 2015, University of Cambridge, UK.

Television and the absent mother: why girls and young women struggle to find the maternal role
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Feasey, R (2015) Television and the absent mother: why girls and young women struggle to find the maternal role. In: Missing, Presumed Dead: Absent Mothers in the Cultural Imagination, 11-12 June 2015, Umeå University.

Mothers on mothers: maternal readings of popular television
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Feasey, R (2015) Mothers on mothers: maternal readings of popular television. In: Consuming/Culture: Women and Girls in Print and Pixels, 5–6 June 2015, Oxford Brookes University, UK.

Mothers on mothers: maternal readings of popular television
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Feasey, R (2014) Mothers on mothers: maternal readings of popular television. In: Rethinking Sisterhood: The Affective Politics of Women's Relationships, 13 September 2014, Bristol University, UK.

Teen drama: absent, inept and intoxicated mothers
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Feasey, R (2011) Teen drama: absent, inept and intoxicated mothers. In: Media and Mothers’ Matters, 21 October 2011, University of Winchester, Winchester, UK.

Mediated dying: representations of Jade's death in tabloid and magazine media
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Feasey, R (2011) Mediated dying: representations of Jade's death in tabloid and magazine media. In: Centre for Death and Society Seminar, March 2011, University of Bath, Bath, UK.

'Not just documented but sold': Jade and death on the TV, radio, magazines, news, and the web
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Feasey, R and Ashton, D (2010) 'Not just documented but sold': Jade and death on the TV, radio, magazines, news, and the web. In: Death and the Media : Joint BSA Death, Dying and Bereavement Study Group and BSA Media Study Group Event, 15 November 2010, British Sociological Association, London, UK.

Reconsidering soap opera: (post) feminism, femininity and the woman's role
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Feasey, R (2010) Reconsidering soap opera: (post) feminism, femininity and the woman's role. In: What happened next? Feminist Television Studies in post-feminist times: researching the relationship between women, feminism, the feminine and British television, 16 September 2010, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK.

Examining the importance of no-sex sex in Pushing Daisies
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Feasey, R (2010) Examining the importance of no-sex sex in Pushing Daisies. In: Gender and Difference Conference, 20-23 May 2010, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.

The blurring of fame and talent: representations of female celebrity in heat magazine
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Feasey, R (2008) The blurring of fame and talent: representations of female celebrity in heat magazine. In: Going Cheap? Female celebrity in the tabloid, reality and scandal genres, 25 June 2008, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.

Neo-noir's fatal woman: stardom, survival and Sharon Stone
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Feasey, R (2008) Neo-noir's fatal woman: stardom, survival and Sharon Stone. In: AHRC International Conference - Crossing Cultures: Women, Ageing and Media, 5 December 2008, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK.

Female students and feminist media criticism: the pleasures and frustrations of teaching gender studies
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Feasey, R (2008) Female students and feminist media criticism: the pleasures and frustrations of teaching gender studies. In: The Point of Feminism: An Interdisciplinary Conference, 12 September 2008, University of Reading, Reading, UK.

Masculinity and popular television: heroes, martyrs, friends and fathers
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Feasey, R (2008) Masculinity and popular television: heroes, martyrs, friends and fathers. In: BFI Annual Media Studies Conference, 25-27 June 2008, British Film Institute, London, UK.

Watching Charmed: why teen television appeals to women
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Feasey, R (2006) Watching Charmed: why teen television appeals to women. In: Teen TV: Audience, Industry, Identity. MeCCSA Women’s Media Studies Network seminar, June 2006, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.

Reading Heat magazine
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Feasey, R (2005) Reading Heat magazine. In: Celebrity Culture: An Interdisciplinary Conference, 12-14 September 2005, University of Paisley, Ayr, UK.

Investigating Angel: the hair, the car and the wardrobe
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Feasey, R (2005) Investigating Angel: the hair, the car and the wardrobe. In: Science Fiction and Fantasy - 26th Annual Conference of the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association of the Southwest and Texas, 9-12 February 2005, Albuquerque NM, USA.

The Charmed audience: gender and politics of contemporary culture
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Feasey, R (2004) The Charmed audience: gender and politics of contemporary culture. In: Association for Research in Popular Fictions: Audiences conference, November, 2004, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.

The trials and tribulations of a third button romantic hero
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Feasey, R (2004) The trials and tribulations of a third button romantic hero. In: Love Maybe: A Romantic Comedy Study Day, 19 August 2004, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.

Charmed and dangerous: feminism, femininity and popular culture
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Feasey, R (2004) Charmed and dangerous: feminism, femininity and popular culture. In: Interrogating Post-Feminism: Gender and the Politics of Contemporary Culture, 2-3 April 2004, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.

How to win at the part-time ‘game’ in academia [blog post]
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Khusainova, R, Kukhareva, M, Feasey, R and Hughes, C (2023) How to win at the part-time ‘game’ in academia [blog post]. Campus, Times Higher Education.

(In)fertility and the media: ​representations of infertility [blog post]
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Feasey, R (2020) (In)fertility and the media: ​representations of infertility [blog post]. In Media Res.

Just another celebrity confessional? Famous faces, recognisable voices and mental health in the media [blog post]
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Feasey, R (2019) Just another celebrity confessional? Famous faces, recognisable voices and mental health in the media [blog post]. In Media Res.

Reassurance, fearmongering or cautionary tales: what television teaches young women about motherhood [blog post]
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Feasey, R (2019) Reassurance, fearmongering or cautionary tales: what television teaches young women about motherhood [blog post]. In Media Res.

Mums on TV [blog post]
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Feasey, R (2018) Mums on TV [blog post]. NCT Matters.

Maternal readings of motherhood on television: a Birthlight summary [blog post]
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Feasey, R (2016) Maternal readings of motherhood on television: a Birthlight summary [blog post]. MaMSIE.

'Masculinity in contemporary quality television' and 'Contemporary masculinities in fiction, film and television [book review]
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Feasey, R (2016) 'Masculinity in contemporary quality television' and 'Contemporary masculinities in fiction, film and television [book review]. Critical Studies in Television: The International Journal of Television Studies, 11 (3). pp. 385-387. ISSN 1749-6039

Maternal readings of pregnancy and childbirth on the small screen [blog post]
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Feasey, R (2015) Maternal readings of pregnancy and childbirth on the small screen [blog post]. MaMSIE.

From heartache to happiness: the codes, conventions and clichés of the 40-something celebrity infertility story [blog post]
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Feasey, R (2014) From heartache to happiness: the codes, conventions and clichés of the 40-something celebrity infertility story [blog post]. MaMSIE.

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