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Graduation Term

2018

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Communication

Committee Chair

Phil Chidester

Abstract

The Ordain Women movement was started by a group of Mormon feminists who sought the priesthood for women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The topic received limited attention in the media, but the coverage that did occur played a crucial role in framing the Ordain Women movement. Kate Kelly, the founder of Ordain Women, was excommunicated for her participation in the movement, causing a major blow to the movement’s momentum and influence within LDS communities. This study examined the coverage of the Ordain Women movement in The Washington Post, The Salt Lake Tribune, and Deseret News using framing theory to identify the ways in which media outlets influenced the perceptions of the movement. The Ordain Women movement blog was also analyzed to view the ways in which the group framed themselves, and the ways in which their blog posts contrasted media coverage of their actions and beliefs. By using framing theory, this thesis suggests that the Ordain Women movement were negatively impacted by media coverage that sought to frame them as an opponent of the LDS church.

Access Type

Thesis-ISU Access Only

DOI

http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2018.Falk.J

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