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This collection highlights and extends contemporary women´s and gender studies by presenting theoretical analyses and innovative research conceptualizations, applications and methodologies via a diverse variety of popular-in-the-classroom topics, such as changing masculinities; comedic/dramatic portrayals of ethnicity and discrimination; stigma and differences within mainstream media gender stereotypes; intersections of gendered and sexual identities in social media and fundamental institutions.

These topics emphasize relevant issues and nuances within popular culture, identities and perceptions and social problems and illustrate the breadth of gender studies and its applications, while the diverse methodologies like historical comparisons; ethnographic, demographic and statistical analyses, demonstrate its epistemology.

Each chapter remains solidly founded in gender theory while making significant innovative contributions to the overall field.

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Foreword.- Part I: Identities and Perceptions (Introduction by D´Lane R. Compton).- 1. Blogging My Academic Self: Jenny Davis.- 2. The Gendered Characteristics of Facebook Interaction : Nathalie Delise.- 3. Negotiating Gay Male Christian Identities: Brandi Woodell.- 4. Tomboys in the Work of Carson McCullers: Emily Knox.- Part II: Culture, Stereotypes, and Stigma (Introduction by D. Nicole Farris).- 5. Violent Environment: Women and Frontier Coffey County, Kansas: 1855-1880 (Lisa Bunkowski, and Amanda Hedstrom.- 6. Gender Specific Stereotypes in Television Advertisements: D. Nicole Farris.- 7. Carmen Tafolla: Chicana Writer, from the Whispers of Her People: Manuel Medrano.- 8. The Social Construction and Resistance of Menstruation as a Public Spectacle: Ashly Patterson.- 9. Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Cyberspace: Jesus Smith.- Part III: Social Problems and Applications (Introduction by Mary Ann Davis).- 10. Punishing Abused Women: A Retrospective on a Ms. Magazine Blog: Dianne Bartlow.- 11. Constructing Gay Male and Lesbian Foster Families: Mary Ann Davis.- 12. Sex Differences in Adult Mortality: Some Evidence from Taiwan and the United States: Yu Ting Chang.- 13. Gendered Helping Behaviors and Place Attachment in New Orleans´ Upper 9 th Ward: Jenny Savely.

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