Macy Burkett
- Ph.D. Student
Contact Info
Personal Links
Biography —
Macy Burkett is a doctoral candidate in the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. In addition to her doctoral degree, Macy recently earned a graduate certificate from KU's Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in May 2024.
She holds a Master of Science in Digital Content Strategy from the University of Kansas, a Bachelor of Science in Apparel and Textiles from Kansas State University, and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Kansas State University. Prior to beginning her doctoral degree, Macy worked in marketing and social media at KU Recreation Services in Lawrence, Kansas; JNA Advertising in Overland Park, Kansas; and Savvy Bridal in Kansas City, Missouri.
Research —
Macy's research interests include social media content creators and how their gender identities intersect with their online careers. Her recent paper, "Purity Culture on YouTube: A Thematic Analysis of Christian-Identifying Lifestyle Creators" won third place in the Top Student Paper competition for the Commission on the Status of Women at the 2023 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference in Washington, D.C. Other paper topics include the "tradwife" TikTok trend, the Asbury Revival on TikTok and Gen Z's mental health, and #ChristianTikTok. Macy hopes that her research will shed light on the harmful gender expectations that are shared on social media through the medium of content creators.
Research interests:
- Social Media
- Influencers
- Gender
- Religion
Teaching —
Teaching interests:
- Social Media Marketing
- Content Creation
- Advertising
- Public Relations
- Strategic Communications
Selected Publications —
Published works:
Burkett, K. M. (2024). Christian lifestyle creators and their influence on single women, newlyweds, and new mothers. In Harp, D., Bachmann, & Loke, J. (Eds.), Handbook on Gender and Digital Media [In press].
Silva, F., Baines, A., Seo, H., Burkett, K. M., Chaif, R., Izhar, N., & Unzueta, V. (2024).Facebook social support groups on diabetes: A comparative analysis of the Brazilian and U.S. experience. International Communication Research Journal, 59(1), 46- 66.
Papers under review:
Burkett, K. M. (2024). #Tradwives on TikTok: The promotion of traditional gender roles and the radicalization of online audiences [Unpublished manuscript]. Journalism and Mass Communications. University of Kansas.
Burkett, K. M. (2024). Attracting young audiences on X: A discourse analysis of Christian media outlets’ X pages [Unpublished manuscript]. Journalism and Mass Communications. University of Kansas.
Burkett, K. M., Doyle, T., & Malik, A. (2024). #ChristianTikTok: An analysis of Generation Z’s uncertain identity [Unpublished manuscript]. Journalism and Mass Communications. University of Kansas.
Diwanji, V., Nguyen, N., Chaif, R., Burkett, K. M., Barros, M., & Okocha, M. (2024). Keep colors bright all-year long: A big-data-based cross-cultural analysis of consumer discourses about “rainbow washing” [Unpublished manuscript]. Journalism and Mass Communications. University of Kansas.
Diwanji, V., Conlin, J., Burkett, K. M., & Barros, M. (2024). True influence is about leveraging virtuality: Unlocking the persuasive power of virtual influencers in advertising [Unpublished manuscript]. Journalism and Mass Communications. University of Kansas. Burkett, K. M. (2023). Generation Z and faith: A thematic analysis of #AsburyRevival TikTok content [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Journalism and Mass Communications. University of Kansas.
Burkett, K. M. (2023). Purity culture on YouTube: Selling heteronormative patriarchy as God’s design [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Journalism and Mass Communications. University of Kansas.
Seo, H., Burkett, K. M., Okocha, M., Ha, H., Chaif, R., Izhar, N., Barros, M., Jona, B., & Iqbal, A. (2024). Social media activism and women’s health: Endometriosis as a feminist issue[Manuscript submitted for publication]. Journalism and Mass Communications. University of Kansas.
Seo, H., Paulo da Silva, M., Jona, B., Iqbal, A., Burkett, K. M., Khan, H., & Carreno, A. (2024).Comparative analysis of AI attitudes among JMC students in Brazil and the US: A mixed methods approach [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Journalism and Mass Communications. University of Kansas.
Selected Presentations —
Burkett, K. M. (August 2024). #Tradwives on TikTok: The promotion of traditional gender roles and the radicalization of online audiences. Paper accepted for presentation to the Commission on the Status of Women at the 2024 annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 7-11, Philadelphia, PA.
Seo, H., Burkett, K. M., Okocha, M., Ha, H., Chaif, R., Izhar, N., Barros, M., Jona, B., & Iqbal, A. (August 2024). Social media activism and women’s health: Endometriosis as a feminist issue. Paper accepted for presentation to the Commission on the Status of Women at the 2024 annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 7-11, Philadelphia, PA. *Second-place Top Faculty/Student Paper
Seo, H., Paulo da Silva, M., Jona, B., Iqbal, A., Burkett, K. M., Khan, H., & Carreno, A.(August 2024). Comparative analysis of AI attitudes among JMC students in Brazil and the US: A mixed-methods approach. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2024 annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 7-11, Philadelphia, PA.
Diwanji, V., Nguyen, N., Chaif, R., Burkett, K. M., Barros, M., & Okocha, M. (August 2024).Keep colors bright all-year long: A big-data-based cross-cultural analysis of consumer discourses about “rainbow washing.” Paper accepted for presentation at the 2024 annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 7-11, Philadelphia, PA.
Diwanji, V., Conlin, J., Burkett, K. M., & Barros, M. (August 2024). True influence is about leveraging virtuality: Unlocking the persuasive power of virtual influencers in advertising. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2024 annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 7-11,Philadelphia, PA. Burkett, K. M. (March 2024). #Tradwives on TikTok: The promotion of traditional gender roles and the radicalization of online audiences. Paper presented to the Commission on the Status of Women at the midwinter convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, March 1-2, Norman, OK.
Burkett, K. M. (March 2024). Attracting Young Audiences on X: A discourse analysis of Christian media outlets’ X pages. Paper presented to the Critical and Cultural Studies Division at the midwinter convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, March 1-2, Norman, OK.
Burkett, K. M. (August 2023). Generation Z and faith: A thematic analysis of #AsburyRevivalTikTok content. Paper presented to the Religion and Media Interest Group at the convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 6-10, Washington, D.C.
Burkett, K. M. (August 2023). Purity culture on YouTube: A thematic analysis of Christian identifying lifestyle creators. Paper presented to the Commission on the Status of Women at the convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 6-10, Washington, D.C. *Third-place Top Student Paper
Silva, F., Baines, A., Seo, H., Burkett, K. M., Chaif, R., Izhar, N., & Unzueta, V. (August2023). Comparative analysis of online social support in health: Brazilian and U.S. Facebook groups on diabetes. Paper accepted for presentation to the International Communication Division at the 2023 annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 6-10, Washington, D.C. *First-place Top Faculty/Student Paper