SIUE’s Speno Describes Media Studies Research on Segue
Posted April 30, 2021
On this week’s episode of Segue, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s weekly radio program exploring the lives and work of the people on campus and beyond, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Kevin Leonard, PhD, interviews Ashton Speno, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Mass Communications.
This episode of Segue airs at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 2. Listeners can tune into WSIE 88.7 FM The Sound or siue.edu/wsie.
Speno earned a bachelor’s from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a master’s from the University of Delaware, and her doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia, all in communication and media studies. She joined the SIUE faculty in 2017, and her research primarily focuses on issues of gender and sexualization in the media, adolescent experiences with new media technologies, and media effects on attitudes, behaviors, health outcomes and self-concept.
Recently, Speno was awarded the 2021-22 Vaughnie Lindsay New Investigator Award, which recognizes faculty members whose research has the promise of making significant contributions to their fields of study, their respective school or department, and to SIUE in general. The award will support her project entitled, “An Examination of the Intersection of Gender and Race in Tween Television Programming.”
“How did you become interested in communication and media studies?” inquires Leonard.
“I was the undergraduate student that changed their major six or seven times,” says Speno. “I made the rounds across the social sciences and found myself in a media in society course, and became fascinated with the how people learn from the media.
“My professor discussed how women are sexually objectified across the media, how this impacts the way we think of ourselves as women and how others treat women. I love the abstract thinking associated with the major. We spend a third of our lives with screen media and rarely study it.”
Now, Speno teaches a similar entry-level mass communications course at SIUE with the same enthusiasm she had as a student during her lectures.
“Was there a pivotal moment in which you realized that you wanted to devote your career to this area?” asks Leonard.
“I did two internships as an undergrad, but they didn’t have the social science element I was searching for,” responds Speno. “Afterwards, I made an appointment with my advisor who asked me what I enjoy doing, money aside. I told her that I loved our classes and learning, and she helped me apply for graduate school. I’m first and foremost a learner, and that’s what has kept me coming back for more.”
Because of her experience, Speno pushes her students to apply for internship opportunities to learn what they like and dislike about the communications field.
“What personal experiences have helped guide your research?” asks Leonard.
“A main vein running through my research deals with objectification theory, and I’m also interested in sexism and gender portrayals,” shares Speno. “My experience growing up with dance helped me understand objectification. In shows such as Dance Moms, young girls wear skimpy outfits at a young age. Jean Kilbourne calls this adultification, which is also something I’ve studied throughout my research.”
Speno’s experiences with sexism have also helped her understand gender and sexism across mediums. As a pregnant woman, she is currently interested in how motherhood and postpartum celebrity culture impacts thoughts about the self during pregnancy.
“Is there a set of questions that have guided your research over the course of your career?” inquires Leonard.
“My main question is what do young people learn from media?” says Speno. “Another question that has lingered throughout my research is what are the effects of media sexual objectification on individuals? Finally, I ask what types of media production people are creating and why.”
“What conclusions have you drawn from your research?” asks Leonard.
“I have found that girls are underrepresented in tween television programming, and that they are generally portrayed as being more attractive and concerned about their appearance,” Speno explains. “Girls learn early on that appearance is the most important thing, and that it is appropriate and even desirable for others to comment on their looks. I’ve learned that sexual objectification of women and girls is prevalent and has negative effects such as self-objectification and reduced cognitive abilities.”
Tune in at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 2, to WSIE 88.7 The Sound to hear the entire conversation.
