Dr. Kimberly Voss, a journalism professor at the University of Central Florida, recently captivated attendees at the Matheson History Museum with her insightful presentation titled “Florida Women, Advice and Social Change.” This talk was part of the Florida Talks program organized by Florida Humanities. Voss, whose investigative endeavors have focused on the often-overlooked women’s pages of newspapers, discussed their significant yet understated role in American journalism.
Women’s pages were once a staple in newspapers, offering a dedicated section for stories that catered to female readers. However, these pages, prevalent until the 1970s, gradually disappeared, morphing into broader Lifestyle sections. Voss argues that their impact was profound and warrants further examination. “The women’s pages were the only place women could work at most newspapers for decades,” she noted, highlighting their importance not only as professional avenues for women journalists but also as vital sources of information for readers.
Despite being dismissed as mere “fluff,” Voss insisted that the content of these sections was substantial. “When I started …research about women in journalism, it typically focused on the rare examples of women writing for the front page. However, a meticulous review of the women’s pages revealed that they contained much more significant stories.” The topics covered included family dynamics, fashion, food, and home improvement, alongside advice columns that resonated deeply with readers.
Advice columns, a prominent feature of these pages, established newspapers as relatable and compassionate sources of guidance. Voss pointed to nationally recognized columnists like Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren, who gained widespread popularity. Locally in Florida, several notable women journalists contributed, including Dorothy Ricker, who penned a widely read advice column from Tampa, and Dorothy Chapman, who transitioned from a recipe columnist to becoming the first restaurant critic at The Orlando Sentinel. Eleanor Ratelle, writing as Eleanor Hart at The Miami Herald, distinguished herself by addressing gender and racial issues in her advice columns during the 1960s.
Many journalists featured in women’s pages had compelling narratives but have remained largely unrecognized in history. Voss has dedicated three decades to uncovering these stories, advocating for their rightful place in the historical record. “These women journalists had great stories but had largely been overlooked historically. It has been a great experience to add them to the historical record,” she stated, emphasizing the need to document these contributions more comprehensively.
Voss’s extensive work includes books focusing on food journalism, fashion journalism, and politics as represented in women’s pages. She is currently researching and writing a new book about wine journalism, further exploring the diverse topics that these pages encompassed.
