Woman (TV series)

Woman was an American weekly half-hour television series which aired on WNED-TV. Each episode featured a discussion with one or more guest speakers on issues relevant to women and their lives. The series was produced by Sandra Elkin and hosted by Samantha Dean.[1] The series was syndicated for nationwide airing on PBS, a first for one of WNED-TV's programs.[2] Following syndication, Elkin became the series' host.[2][3][4] The show premiered in September 1972 and ended in 1977, having produced around 200 episodes.[4]

As a host, Elkin was praised for her "candid and honest approach," and the program was praised for its informational nature. In Elkin's words, "we don't play the usual talk show games on Woman...There's no baiting guests or embarrassing them. Our purpose is to provide information".[4][5]

Development and production

Elkin approached WNED-TV with the idea for the series in 1972, after hearing from local women that they wanted access to more information on women's issues, and women's health in particular. The station's program director liked Elkin's proposal, and after two weeks of negotiation the station agreed to fund production of the show's first season.[4][6] Elkin had no experience working in television at the time.[4]

The show was well-received upon its debut.[4] Six months after the series premiered on WNED-TV, the Eastern Educational Network began airing the show as well.[6] PBS picked up the show after its first season finished airing; by 1974, the show was broadcast on 185 member stations across the country.[4]

All episodes of the show were filmed in Buffalo, with the exception of two episodes focusing on women in prison,[6] which were filmed at KECT-TV in St Louis, Missouri.[7]

In the mid-1980s, feminist Andrea Dworkin and the president of WNED-TV exchanged communications on preserving and archiving the tapes of Woman still being stored by the station.[8]

Episodes

All information comes from the American Archive of Public Broadcasting.[9]

Season 1

Ep. No Title Guests Air Date
001 Frigidity Psychoanalyst Robert Seidenberg, gynecologist Stanford Copley, and psychologist Gloria Roblyn. September 24, 1972
002 Menopause Writer Mary Lou Fox, gynecologist Wayne Johnson, and psychiatrist Bohdana Salaban. October 8, 1972
003 Birth Control Ruth Miller of The Buffalo Planned Parenthood Association. October 17, 1972
004 Alternatives to Traditional Marriage Nena O'Neil, author of Open Marriage, and Karen DeCrow, a feminist lawyer from Syracuse, New York November 12, 1972
005
006
007 The Childless Couple Ellen Peck. December 7, 1972
008 Sexual Problems in Marriage Richard A. Spitz and Mae A. Biggs, a co-therapy team at the Masters and Johnson Clinic in St. Louis, Missouri.
009 The Medicine Cabinet Addict Dr. Christopher D'Amanda, Jana Henderson, and Richard Metter
010 The Woman Alcoholic Michael Merrick of the Buffalo Area Council on Alcoholism, and two former women alcoholics
011 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Lynn Runfola, Paul Dyson, and Judy Choate, the founder and executive director of the National Foundation of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
012 What to Tell Children about Birth, Death, Adoption, and Divorce Cynthia Clayton, M.D. and Audrey Worrell, M.D.
013 Sex Education January 7, 1973
014 Role Definition Wilma Scott Heide, president of the National Organization of Women January 17, 1973
015 The Bright Child Joan Hovorka and Thomas Ahern January 25, 1973
016 Teens and Drugs Thomas Regent, Chief of Toxicology in the Erie County Laboratory, and James Creighton, Erie County Medical Examiner. February 1, 1973
017 Special Medical Problems of Children Roberta Glick February 8, 1973
018 Teenagers Today with Dr. Benjamin Spock Pediatrician and author Benjamin Spock February 15, 1973
019 The Sexually Active Teen Dr. Stanford Copley and Steven Salyer, who argue in favor of teenagers having access to birth control January 10, 1973
020 Birth Control Part 2 Fordham professor William Mara March 22, 1973
021
022 Self Examination, Part 1 February 6, 1973
023 Self Examination Part 2: Another View Dr. Theodore Schulman and Dr. Virginia Rubenstein March 8, 1973
024 The Older Woman and Ageism Peggy Niven and Dorothy Tennov March 22, 1973
025 Black Women Dorothy Pitman Hughes and Julia Van Metre March 29, 1973
026
027 Women and Psychology Psychologist Dr. Jo Ann Evansgardner April 26, 1973
028 Women and the Law Attorneys Cathy Douglas and Karen DeCrow March 15, 1973
029
030 Women as a Political Force May 2, 1973

Season 2

Ep. No. Title Guests Air Date
101 Our Bodies Ourselves Wilma Diskin and Judy Norsigian of the Boston Women's Health Book Collective December 18, 1973
102 Why Women are Dissatisfied with their Gynecologist Columnist Ellen Frankfort and author Barbara Seaman October 25, 1973
103 The Woman Alone Authors Harriet La Barre, Patricia Obrien and Gail North November 1, 1973
104 Men's Liberation Author and activist Warren Farrell November 8, 1973
105 Image of Women in Media Broadcasters Jan Chaney and Joyce Snyder November 15, 1973
106 Equal Rights Amendment, Part 1 Anne Scott and Karen DeCrow November 29, 1973
107 Equal Rights Amendment, Part 2 Phyllis Schlafly and Geline B. Williams December 6, 1973
108 Sexism in Religion Audrey Gellis and Patricia McQuilllan December 13, 1973
109 Re-Entering the Job Market Felice N. Schwartz, president of Catalyst, and career consultant Janice LaRouche December 20, 1973
110 Woman's Liberation, A Dissent Midge Decter and Lucianne Goldberg January 3, 1974
111 Divorce Insurance Lawyer Diana DuBroff January 10, 1974
112 Menstruation & Pre-Menstrual Tension Cynthia Clayton, M.D. and Leah Cahan Schaefer January 17, 1974
113 Consciousness Raising Judy Sullivan and Claudia Dreifus January 24, 1974
114 Betty Friedan Author and activist Betty Friedan January 30, 1974
115 Sexism in Religion, Another View Fordham University professor Dr. William A. Marra and Rabbi Robert Alper January 31, 1974
116 Mastectomy Suzanne Johnson February 7, 1974
117 Sex Bias in Education, Part 1 Judy Wenning and Phyllis AlRoy February 21, 1974
118 Sex Bias in Education, Part 2 Andrea Ostrum and Barbara Rothberg February 21, 1974
119 Childbirth. Part 1 Dr. Mortimer Rosen and Doris Haire March 7, 1974
120 Childbirth, Part 2 Dr. Sumner Yaffe and Doris Haire February 8, 1974
121 Women and Insurance attorney Kathleen Peratis March 14, 1974
122 Female Homosexuality Barbara Love March 28, 1974
123 Viveca Lindfors Viveca Lindfors
124 Corporate Wives Dr. Robert Siedenburg and Robert O. Soman April 11, 1974
125 Credibility Gap Credit for Women Nancy Polokoff April 18, 1974
126 Economics & The American Woman Elizabeth Forsling Harris May 2, 1974
127 Food for Thought Maruka Fernandez and Dr. Eleanor Williams May 9, 1974

Season 3

Ep. No. Title Guests Air Date
Margaret Sloan on Black Sisterhood feminist writer Margaret Sloan August 4, 1974
Unlikely Addicts: Middle Class Women journalist Barbara Kerr August 14, 1974
The Marriage Savers Professors Catherine S. Chilman and David Olson August 21, 1974
Mothers Who Leave Home author Judy Sullivan August 24, 1974
Female Sexuality. Part 1
Female Sexuality. Part 2 Helen Singer Kaplan and Shere Hite September 4, 1974
Menopause: How to Cope Mary C. Howell, M.D. and writer Paula Weideiger September 12, 1974
Picking up the Pieces: One Widow Speaks author Lynn Caine September 18, 1974
N.O.W. Now Karen DeCrow September 18, 1974
Women Workers historian Barbara Wertheimer and union organizer Margie Albert September 19, 1974
Write on Women Playwrights playwright Myrna Lamb September 25, 1974
Women and Children's Liberation in China author and social worker Ruth Sidel October 16, 1974
Congresswoman Bella Abzug Bella Abzug October 22, 1974
The Remarrieds psychologist Dr. Hanna Kapit October 30, 1974
Two Profession Marriages Gail Parker and Tom Parker, President and Vice President of Bennington College November 6, 1974
Mister Midwife Midwife Norman Casserly November 14, 1974
A Conversation with Gloria Steinem Gloria Steinem December 5, 1974
Non-Sexist Non-Racist Toys for Children Jane Galvin Lewis, a co-founder of the National Black Feminist Organization December 5, 1974
Single Parent Experience reporter Marjorie Margolies December 20, 1974
The Youngest Consumers: How TV Food Commercials Program Children and Parents Joan Gussow and Catherine Clancy January 9, 1975
Suffragist Florence H. Luscomb architect and women's suffrage activist Florence Luscomb January 16, 1975
Occupation Mother counselors Ruth Armin and Phyllis Broady February 6, 1975
The Perfect Mother author and activist Shirley L. Radl and nurse Angela Barren McBride February 6, 1975
Changing Motherhood sociologist Jessie Bernard February 6, 1975
The IUD Controversy: More Information Richard Dickey, M.D. and lawyer Marcia Greenberger March 6, 1975
Dr. Jean Mayer on Nutrition Jean Mayer April 1, 1975
Feminist Therapy sociologist Pauline Bart April 8, 1975
Mental Health Care for Women. Part 1 psychologist Naomi Weisstein and psychiatrist Anne Seiden April 10, 1975
Mental Health Care for Women. Part 2 psychologist Naomi Weisstein and psychiatrist Anne Seiden April 10, 1975
Cosmetic Surgery surgeon Sida Prono April 10, 1975
Household Workers attorney Edith Barksdale Sloan and LPN Josephine Hulett April 15, 1975
Beyond the Beauty Myths author Deborah Chase April 15, 1975
Female Homosexuality author Barbara Love April 28, 1975
Women in Policing Margaret Gates April 29, 1975
Women in Prison. Part 1 filmmaker Nancy Margolis May 16, 1975
Women in Prison. Part 2 inmates Carolyn Dillard and Peggy Russell May 16, 1975
Rape. Part 1 June 24, 1975
Rape. Part 2 Susan Brownmiller June 24, 1976
Affirmative Action Barbara Boyle Sullivan June 26, 1976
Women's Studies academics Catherine Stimpson and Liz Kennedy July 1, 1975
Photographer Elsa Dorfman Elsa Dorfman July 1, 1975
Child Custody Dan Molinoff and attorney Doris Sassower July 9, 1975
A Conversation with Florynce Kennedy Florynce Kennedy July 17, 1975
Title IX Margaret Dunkle and Michael Blouin July 23, 1975
Women and Depression academic and writer Myrna Weissman July 24, 1975

Season 4

Ep. No. Title Guests Air Date
Female Sexuality. Part 1 Dr. Mary Jane Sherfey and Barbara Seaman August 8, 1975
Mothers and Daughters author Signe Hammer August 19, 1975
A Conversation With Elizabeth Janeway. Part 1 author Elizabeth Janeway August 20, 1975
A Conversation With Elizabeth Janeway. Part 2 author Elizabeth Janeway August 20, 1975
Feminist Art artist Judy Chicago August 25, 1975
Unnecessary Surgery authors Barbara Ehrenreich and Barbara Seaman September 9, 1975
Women in Transition: Separation and Divorce authors Carolyn Kott Washburne and Jennifer Fleming of Philadelphia-based support group Women in Transition September 23, 1975
Sisters In Crime Frieda Adler September 23, 1975
Puerto Rican Women's Federation co-founders Sisten Elida Rodriquez and Lourdes Vasquez September 23, 1975
The Battle For The Vote. Part 1 director and writer Midge Mackenzie September 24, 1975
The Battle For The Vote. Part 2 director and writer Midge Mackenzie September 24, 1975
Women's Health Care: A History historian Virginia Drachman October 21, 1975
Birth Experiences Lolly Hirsch November 6, 1975
One Woman's Divorce editor and writer Susan Braudy November 10, 1975
Nora Ephron on Everything columnist Nora Ephron November 17, 1975
326 Breast Cancer Controversies author Rose Kushner December 4, 1975
327 Househusbands Reese Sarda and Ross Bachelder December 4, 1975
328 Sterilization and Consent attorney Antonia Hernandez and journalist Claudia Dreifus October 22, 1975
329 Controversies within the Women's Movement. Part 1 Karen DeCrow December 19, 1975
330 Controversies Within the Women's Movement. Part 2 Betty Friedan December 23, 1975
331
332 Women, Money and Power psychologist Phyllis Chesler December 2, 1975
333 Money and the Single Woman author Martha Yates December 16, 1975
334
335 Mental Health Care: One Patient's View author Janet Gotkin December 18, 1975
336
337 Battered Wives Del Martin and Lisa Leghorn January 26, 1976
338 The Myth of the Happy Child Carole Klein January 9, 1976
339 The Proper Place for Women in the Church Loyola University professor Mary Griffin and Patricia Hughes, a member of the Executive Committee for Women in Future Priesthood, a Call for Action January 30, 1976
340
341 Sex Therapy. Part 1 Dr. Helen Singer Kaplan January 24, 1976
342 Sex Therapy. Part 2 Dr. Helen Singer Kaplan January 24, 1976
343 Food Additives: Harmful or Helpful. Part 1 Beatrice Trum Hunter February 6, 1976
344 Food Additives: Harmful or Helpful. Part 2 Beatrice Trum Hunter February 6, 1976
345 The Lady Vanishes: Where are the Women in Films? Midge Kovacs and journalist Marjorie Rosen March 26, 1976
346 Women's Image: Down The Tube Joyce Snyder and Kathleen Bonk, co-coordinators of the NOW Media Task Force February 13, 1976
347 Women's Pages journalists Barbara Hinton and Judy Klemesrud February 24, 1976
348 Feminist Press Nancy Borman, founder of Majority Report, and Janis Kelly, member of the Off-Our-Backs Collective February 17, 1976
349 Chris Williamson and Women's Music Chris Williamson March 4, 1976
350 Political Parties: Women's Clout Carol Burris, founder of The Womens Lobby, Inc and political scientist Susan Tolchin April 2, 1976
351 Unnecessary Surgery: Physicians React Grady Duke, M.D., and James Walker, M.D. April 1, 1976
352 Women's Coalition for the Third Century activist Wilma Scott Heide March 25, 1976

Season 5

Ep. No. Title Guests Air Date
401 Humor by Women writers Anne Beatts and Deanne Stillman August 5, 1976
402 The Estrogen Controversy, Part 1 Dr. Takuma Nemoto, Rose Kushner, and Dr. Rose Ruth Ellison July 20, 1976
403 The Estrogen Question, Part 2 Dr. Takuma Nemoto, Rose Kushner, and Dr. Rose Ruth Ellison July 20, 1976
404 Contemporary Women Poets poets Audre Lorde and Marge Piercy August 3, 1976
405 New Image for Nurses. Part 1 June Rothberg, Ph.D., Jean Spero, Ph.D., and Joanne Ashley, Ph. D. September 2, 1976
406 New Image for Nurses. Part 2 June Rothberg, Ph.D., Jean Spero, Ph.D., and Joanne Ashley, Ph. D. September 2, 1976
407 The Two Earner Family economist Susan Edmiston and writer Carolyn Shaw Bell September 24, 1976
408 Legislative Report Carol Burris September 13, 1976
409 How to Start Your Own Business. Part 1 Claudia Jessup and Genie Chipps, co-authors of The Woman's Guide to Starting a Business October 12, 1976
410 How to Start Your Own Business. Part 2 Ann Smith, founder of Annie's Firehouse Soup Kitchen, Inc. and Ava Stern, founder of the journal Artemis for Enterprising Women October 14, 1976
411 A Conversation with Jeanne Moreau. Part 1 actress Jeanne Moreau October 22, 1976
412 A Conversation with Jeanne Moreau. Part 2 Jeanne Moreau October 22, 1976
413 Engineered Foods: What Are They? Beatrice Trum Hunter September 27, 1976
414 Commentary on Filmed Interview with Simone de Beauvoir Elizabeth Janeway and Gloria Steinem on Dorothy Tennov's interview of Simone de Beauvoir November 12, 1976
415 Working Class Women writer and advocate Nancy Seifer and social worker Mary Sansone November 12, 1976
416 New Roles for Women in Sports sprinter Linda Huey and Jane Fishman November 5, 1976
417
418 Women and Taxes author Martha Yates December 16, 1976
419 Sexual Abuse of Children Social workers Florence Rush and Linda Sanford October 26, 1976
420 Masculine, Feminine, and Androgyny psychologist Joan Bean January 6, 1977
421 Women and Heart Attacks. Part 1 cardiologist Nanette Wenger and physician Harriet Dustin December 21, 1976
422 Women and Heart Attacks. Part 2 Nanette Wenger, M.D. and Dr. Harriet Dustin, M.D. December 21, 1976
423 Lesbian Mothers and Child Custody. Part 1 attorneys Margo Hagaman and Barbara Handschu January 18, 1977
424 Lesbian Mothers and Child Custody. Part 2 couple Ann Foreman and Mary Jo Risher January 12, 1977
425 Legislative Report Update activist Carol Burris and lobbyist Susan Tenenbaum February 18, 1977
426 Pregnancy After 35 Alice Rothchild, M.D. and author Carole Spearin McCauley February 17, 1977
427 Teen Pregnancy Georgia McMurray and nurse specialist Barbara Wallace-Catalano February 28, 1977
428 Women's Astrology Astrologer Tiffany Holmes January 25, 1977
429 Women and Age, Part 1: Age is a Woman's Issue Tish Sommers January 28, 1977
430 Women and Age, Part 2: Age is Money Blues Tish Sommers and Laurie Shields (National Coordinator of the Alliance for Displaced Homemakers) January 28, 1977
431 Women and Age, Part 3: Age is Becoming Tish Sommers, Lydia Braggar, and Marjorie Collins January 28, 1977
432 DES and DES Daughters. Part 1 Health researcher Kay Weiss February 24, 1977
433 DES and DES Daughters. Part 2 Health researcher Kay Weiss February 24, 1977
434 International Tribunals on Crimes Against Women Diana Russell and Judith Friedlander February 28, 1977
435 A Conversation with Robin Morgan Writer Robin Morgan March 15, 1977
436
437 A Conversation with Lotte Jacobi Photographer Lotte Jacobi March 28, 1977
438 Northern Irish Question: Another View March 31, 1977
439 The Great Pretenders: The New Foods Writer and natural foods advocate Beatrice Trum Hunter April 4, 1977
440 Pornography Loretta Darling (Citizens for a Decent Community), feminist writer Susan Brownmiller, and psychologist Anke Ehrhardt April 14, 1977
441 Sexual Harassment on the Job Karen Sauvigne and Susan Meyer March 24, 1977
442 Concerns of American Indian Women Connie Uri, M.D. and Marie Sanchez April 15, 1977
443 Women and Success Dr. Adeline Levine May 19, 1977
444 Alternatives to Estrogen Gideon Seaman, M.D. and Barbara Seaman May 5, 1977

References

  1. ^ "Woman Series". American Archive of Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  2. ^ a b "Celebrating 60 Years". Buffalo Toronto Public Media. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  3. ^ McNeil, Alex (1991). Total Television: A Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. Penguin Books. p. 841. ISBN 978-0-14-015736-9.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Risen, Clay (2023-12-06). "Sandra Elkin, Creator of a Pioneering Feminist Talk Show, Dies at 85". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  5. ^ "'Woman' Is Informative". The Evening Independent. 1975-07-23. pp. 15B.
  6. ^ a b c Sharbutt, Jay (1975-10-22). "'Woman' Series Age 3, Growing". Ocala Star-Banner. Associated Press. pp. 6B.
  7. ^ Women in Prison. Part 1, Woman, Nancy Margolis, WNED, retrieved 2024-08-02{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. ^ Media Report to Women. Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press. 1986. p. 11.
  9. ^ "Woman Series Search". American Archive of Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2024-08-02.