Good manners and high heels: newspaper coverage of South Carolina’s first female governor

ABSTRACT

This study analyses newspaper articles from South Carolina’s largest newspaper – The State – in order to determine its portrayal of the state’s first female governor, Nikki Haley. Analysis of 138 articles, which were drawn from the first 100 days of the two terms that Haley has served as governor, reflected themes from the cult of true womanhood. Haley was first celebrated as the harbinger of moral change in the political landscape of South Carolina only to be positioned in a contentious space between manhood and femininity by her second term. Her husband’s new role as first gentleman of South Carolina was portrayed on a smaller scale but in a similar vein, one that demonstrated a publication’s attempts to negotiate changing gender roles.

KEYWORDS:

• Nikki Haley
• female politicians
• South Carolina politics
• The State newspaper

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Dr. Kenneth Campbell for his guidance and patience.