The Perception Paradox: How the American Female News Anchors' Archetypal Appearance Has Impacted Her Career Both Historically and Contemporarily

Abstract

In August 1981, 38-year-old Christine Craft was demoted from a news anchor to a nonvisible reporter for being “Too old, too ugly, and not deferential to men” (White 1324). Craft's experience is not singular. Since their introduction to the television news industry in late 20th-century America, many female television journalists have endured relentless criticism. Using a review of selected scholarly literature and an original survey, this study investigates the relationship between a female news anchor’s level of attractiveness and her perceived credibility. Viewers and professionals alike disproportionately objectify female anchors, and the trend may continue without greater awareness.