Blog Post #2

Introduction

Watching late-talk-show hosts made me wonder about the cultural impact on society of these interviews. Because of how widespread and watched they were, they would have a huge impact on society. While researching and investigating about these interviews I started to wonder what the differences were in the treatment of male and female celebrities on these late-night talk shows.Do talk show hosts, even unintentionally, ask different types of questions based on gender? This curiosity led me to my research, where I analyze interview questions to uncover potential subconscious biases. By identifying common themes in these interviews and categorizing questions, I am aiming to see if there are patterns in how male and female celebrities are questioned. The quality and quantity of questions in each category may reveal underlying biases, shedding light on how gender perceptions in media reflect the views of society. 

Progress So Far

So far, I have coded around 17 interviews, completing all 10 from the first talk show host and beginning the analysis of the second. As I am progressing through the coding process, I’ve noticed differences in the environments created by each host, which may influence the types of questions asked. I’ve also realized that many interview questions are shaped by current events, a celebrity’s recent accomplishments, and previous context within the conversation. 

Challenges and Problem-Solving

One of the biggest challenges in my research has been identifying questions with a clear gendered or biased undertone. Many interview questions are based off the conversation’s context, making it difficult to categorize them as inherently biased. However, rather than focusing on individual questions, I’ve shifted my focus to broader patterns. By going back through my coded data, I plan to analyze recurring themes and identify which topics are consistently directed toward male versus female celebrities. This approach will allow me to capture subtler forms of bias that might not be obvious from a single question but will be clear when looking at the bigger picture.

Collected Data Highlight

One of the most interesting findings in my data so far is how heavily interview questions are influenced by current events and the celebrity’s recent work, such as a newly released movie or show. I also expected to find more directly biased questions, such as those about red carpet looks or personal drama, but these appear less frequently than I anticipated. While this may make identifying bias more challenging, I believe that once all the data is organized into a spreadsheet, graph, or table, broader trends will become clearer. Patterns in question categories may still reveal some gender biases that aren’t immediately obvious in individual interviews.

Reflection

In my research journey so far, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how celebrity interviews are shaped by context, current events, and the individual styles of talk show hosts. While I initially expected to find more obvious gender biases, I’ve realized that bias can be more subtle, or shown through overall trends, appearing in patterns rather than individual questions. Although it has challenged me and made me reevaluate my plan of coding, it has made me think more in depth about how to analyze and present my findings. I’m hopeful that my final analysis will use all the data and be able to shown trends in the categories of questions that interviewers have asked to celebrities.