Professionalizing Public Relations: History, Gender and Education

Thisgroundbreaking study offers new insights into public relations history with afocus on the changing relationship between women and public relations, theinstitutionalization of public relations education, and the significance ofglobalization in Australia in the second half of the twentieth century. Drawingon archival and interview research, it reveals how the industry’sprofessionalization led to the development of an occupational identity alongnational and gendered lines. It also challenges common misconceptions aroundthe origins of public relations and women’s early contributions and careers.Adopting a critical approach, Professionalizingpublic relations avoids corporatist perspectives on the historicaldevelopment of public relations by focusing on the processes ofprofessionalization and their significance for gender and education, and by situatingthis study in a broader global context. The findings reveal dynamic andcontested conceptualizations of public relations knowledge and expertise, andthe significance of historical processes for contemporary understandings of theindustry.