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Welcome to Advanced TV Herstory, the podcast that connects the dots of TV & feminism and American politics & culture. We tell the stories of women in TV who have had a profound impact on the confidence and aspirations of generations of girls and women.

We highlight the pioneering journalists, talented actresses, and gutsy writers who challenged societal norms and provide historical context for their achievements within the cultural and political trends of the time. By exploring the past, we ensure that the struggles, triumphs, and milestones of these women are not lost to history.

Hosted and produced by television scholar Cynthia Bemis Abrams, Advanced TV Herstory is more than just a podcast. It is a research-based examination of the evolution of television and women in our society. Each episode is an opportunity to inspire listeners to believe in themselves, challenge norms, break barriers, and shape the future of television and our world.

Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at www.tvherstory.com/.

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Women Who Raise

May 12, 2024

This Mother's Day we celebrate the women who raise us, nurture and help us find our inner strength and outer voice. Typically, they are our mothers or stepmothers—but they also can be foster moms, grandparents, neighbors, dance teachers—any woman who holds a mirror up to our potential. They often enter our lives without warning and change us forever—though sometimes it takes years for us to realize it. 

These are my thoughts on Victoria Rowell’s compelling 2007 memoir, “The Women Who Raised Me.” Ms. Rowell spent her youth in the foster care system. But with the help of many dedicated and caring women, she became an accomplished dancer and successful actor. Her memoir is a tribute to the women who raised her, and she describes them in loving and vivid detail.  

“I was never meant to be raised by one mother, but by many.” 
 -Victoria Rowell 

Ms. Rowell is a two-time Emmy Award nominee and has received 11 NAACP Image Awards. She is perhaps best known for her 20+ years on “The Young and the Restless” and eight seasons on “Diagnosis: Murder.” Rowell continues to act (look for “Summer Camp” in theaters May 31, 2024) and write, direct, and produce. Additionally, she has been recognized for her work with foster children and advocacy for education, the arts, and mental health awareness, support, and treatment. 

As always, thank you for listening to Advanced TV Herstory. And, as we celebrate Mother’s Day and National Foster Care Month, please show your gratitude to the women in your life. You know who they are.

RESOURCES

The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir by Victoria Rowell
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-women-who-raised-me-victoria-rowell/1100571768

Victoria Rowell: Featured Speaker for the Paul & Louise Miller Lecture Series
https://youtu.be/A2CrcdUXRv8?si=Cow9hEBhED1jGMLx

National Foster Care Month
https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/

Summer Camp (in theaters 31 May 2024)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26928684/?ref_=nm_flmg_unrel_1_act

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Audio - Marilou Marosz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariloumarosz/

Music - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/