Remembering Women Researchers in the History of Communication Research: The Case of Herta Herzog (1933-1943)

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 98 - 120, 31.03.2023

Çağla Kubilay

https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.1154803

Cited By: 1

Abstract

The Office of Radio Research (later called the Bureau of Applied Social Research), which was one of the important centers in the institutionalization process of mass media research in the United States, was also a pioneer in terms of employing a large number of female researchers in the pre-1970 period when women became more visible in academic jobs. Herta Herzog, originally from Austria, was a prominent figure among the researchers working at the Bureau. Although Herzog had pioneered theoretical and methodological studies in the years 1937-1943 when she was in the Bureau, she was symbolically erased from the historiography of the field. The significance of Herzog's research in this period was only recognized after the 1980s; as a consequence of the questioning of the gender-biased history of the field, Herzog's contributions along with other female researchers have begun to be remembered in the Western literature. In Turkey, although many studies are focusing on the relationship between women and media, there has not been a discussion about reconsidering the history of the field in terms of gender. Herzog is either completely ignored or given a very limited place in communication theory books that are widely known in Turkey. Studies that include the researcher, albeit limited, place her in the historical origins of uses and gratifications research. Thus, the purpose of this study is to rethink Herzog's theoretical and methodological contributions to the field of communication studies from the years of Vienna until her leaving from the Office of Radio Research (1933-1943) and to make it visible in terms of Turkish literature. The study aims to draw attention to the importance of considering the history of the field in terms of gender by emphasizing the role that women played in the institutionalization process of the field by focusing on Herzog.

Keywords

Herta Herzog, Historiography, Gender, Woman Researchers, Communication Studies

İletişim Araştırmaları Tarihinde Kadın Araştırmacıları Hatırlamak: Herta Herzog Örneği (1933-1943)

Abstract

Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde kitle iletişim araştırmalarının kurumsallaşması sürecinde önemli merkezlerden biri olan Radyo Araştırma Bürosu (daha sonra Uygulamalı Toplumsal Araştırmalar Bürosu), kadınların akademik kadrolarda daha fazla görünür hale geldiği 1970 öncesi dönemde çok sayıda kadın araştırmacıyı istihdam etmesi bakımından öncü bir nitelik taşır. Aslen Avusturyalı olan Herta Herzog ise, Büroda faaliyet gösteren araştırmacılar arasında öne çıkan bir figürdür. Herzog, Büroda bulunduğu 1937-1943 yıllarında teorik ve metodolojik bakımdan öncü nitelikte çalışmalar yapmış olmasına rağmen alanın tarihyazımından uzun yıllar sembolik olarak silinmiştir. Herzog’un bu dönemde yaptığı araştırmaların önemi ancak 1980’li yıllardan sonra teslim edilebilmiş; alanın toplumsal cinsiyete dayalı tarihyazımının sorgulanmasına bağlı olarak diğer kadın araştırmacılarla birlikte Herzog’un katkıları da Batılı literatür içerisinde hatırlanmaya başlanmıştır. Türkiye’de ise kadın ve medya ilişkisini odağa alan çok sayıda araştırma yürütülmesine rağmen, iletişim araştırmaları alanının tarihinin toplumsal cinsiyet perspektifinden ele alınmasına dair bir tartışmanın henüz yapılmadığı görülmektedir. Herzog, Türkiye’de yayımlanan ve yaygın biçimde okunan çeşitli iletişim kuramları kitaplarında ya tamamen görmezden gelinmekte ya da kendisine oldukça sınırlı bir yer bulabilmektedir. Araştırmacıya sınırlı da olsa yer veren çalışmalarda ise daha ziyade kullanımlar ve doyumlar araştırmalarının tarihsel kökenlerine yerleştirilmektedir. Bir literatür incelemesi olan bu çalışmanın amacı, Viyana yıllarından başlayarak Radyo Araştırma Bürosu’ndan ayrılışına kadar olan dönemde (1933-1943) Herzog’un iletişim çalışmaları alanına yaptığı teorik ve metodolojik katkıları değerlendirmek ve Türkçe literatür açısından görünür kılmaktır. Çalışma, Herzog’u odağa alarak kadınların alanın kurumsallaşması sürecinde oynadıkları rolü hatırlatarak alanın tarihinin toplumsal cinsiyet perspektifinden değerlendirilmesinin önemine dikkat çekmeyi hedeflemektedir.

Keywords

Herta Herzog, İletişim Araştırmaları, Tarihyazımı, Toplumsal Cinsiyet, Kadın Araştırmacılar

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