Megan McFarlane Wins Outstanding Dissertation Award

Department of Communication Associate Instructor and recent U of U graduate Megan McFarlane has won the Cheris Kramarae Outstanding Dissertation Award for the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender (OSCLG). McFarlane’s dissertation, titled “U.S. Military Policy and the Discursive Construction of Servicewomen’s Bodies,” examines servicewomen’s bodily experiences—specifically those having to do with sexual assault, abortion, and pregnancy—and how these experiences are represented and understood. Her dissertation analyzed U.S. military laws and policies and popular culture representations of servicewomen’s bodies as well as transcripts of interviews McFarlane had with servicewomen themselves.

McFarlane was informed that the OSCLG award committee “had glowing things to say about [her] dissertation.” She will receive the award at the OSCLG annual conference held in October at Western Kentucky University, where she will also present her research on an awards panel.

OSCLG seeks to “provide a forum for professional discussion, presentation of research and demonstration of creative projects in the areas of communication, language and gender, and to promote the recognition of those doing work in this area.” Members of OSCLG include teachers, consultants, practitioners, and researchers from across a wide spectrum of disciplines.