Karen Ross Boeken

The book explores the growing distrust and alienation between Jews and Palestinians over the past fifteen years, highlighting the stagnation of support for grassroots organizations aimed at fostering unity. It focuses on the challenges faced by Jewish-Palestinian youth programs that emerged after the Oslo Accords, which now struggle to gain traction despite their potential for positive social change in Israeli society. The narrative examines the complexities of these relationships and the impact of societal divisions on collaborative efforts.

Set in 1970s California, the narrative follows two young social workers, Kathy and Susan, whose immediate attraction conflicts with their differing life goals. Kathy, rooted in her Christian upbringing, yearns for marriage and family, while Susan prioritizes her career and independence. Their shared commitment to the children in foster care brings them closer, yet their relationship is fraught with challenges as they navigate their contrasting desires and backgrounds, leading to a profound struggle for Kathy's soul.

The book delves into the historical context surrounding contemporary media representations of sex and gender, exploring phenomena like reality TV, iconic films, and the impact of technology on women's communication. It examines the roles of women in media, from news editors to cultural symbols like the Wonderbra, and discusses the political implications of figures such as Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. Through this lens, the author highlights how these elements reflect and shape societal attitudes towards gender.

This work takes both a chronological and a thematic approach, in order to explore the ways in which the audience as an analytical concept has changed, as well as examining the relationships which audiences have with texts and the ways in which they exert their power as consumers.