Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP0208162

Funding Activity

Website
http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/Web/Grant/Grant/DP0208162

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

INVENTING PERFECT AUSTRALIAN WOMANHOOD: THE MISS AUSTRALIA QUEST AND THE ROLE OF DISABILITY IN POSTWAR AUSTRALIA. The Miss Australia Quest articulated the concept of perfect white womanhood in the postwar era. Sponsored by a major charity, the Spastics League, the Quest sought to locate representatives of conventional womanhood yet who had exemplary appearance, poise and moral virtue. Bodily and moral perfection ran counter to the sponsoring organisation which dealt with the severely disabled. With competitions held throughout the Commonwealth, the finalists were designated by their state of origin. Hence both regions and then states competed alongside individuals. The broadcast of the Quest was a major television event until 1986. An analysis of the Quest allows interrogation of the role of fundraising for charity, the construction of celebrity, the nature of idealised young womanhood and interstate rivalries. Scholarly articles and a book alongside a projected exhibition at the new National Museum of Australia are anticipated.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2002

End Date: 01-03-2005

Funding Scheme: Discovery Projects

Funding Amount: $191,887.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Historical Studies | History: Australian | Culture, Gender, Sexuality |

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

Other

Other Keywords

Culture, Gender, Sexuality | Historical Studies | History: Australian | Other

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