Rebecca Hains

Rebecca Hains is a Professor of Media and Communication at Salem State University. Her research focuses on children's media culture, gender representation, and marketing to children through critical/cultural studies.

• Ph.D. in Mass Media and Communication from Temple University (2007)
• Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from Temple University (2007)
• M.S. in Mass Communication from Boston University (2000)
• B.A. in English/Communication Arts from Emmanuel College (1998)

Her work has been featured in major news outlets like BBC, The New York Times, and NPR. She has authored two monographs: The Princess Problem (2014) and Growing Up with Girl Power (2012), and co-edited three collections on children's media and toys.

Recent publications analyze:

• Barbie's body politics and diversity marketing
• Gendered marketing in LEGO toys
• Intersectional analysis of media's impact on children
• Critical perspectives on youth media consumption

She actively engages in public scholarship through RebeccaHains.com, social media, and media commentary.

Key research trends show:

• Continuity in examining gendered consumer culture
• Evolution from girl power narratives to contemporary princess culture
• Increasing focus on intersectional analyses of race, gender, and class
• Interdisciplinary approach combining media studies, sociology, and gender studies

Her teaching includes courses like:

• MCO 222 How Advertising Works
• MCO 303 Media and Race
• MCO 475 Critical Analysis of Media and Culture
• MCO 330 UX Research in Digital Media