the gap between societal norms for public and pri-
vate expression. While talking to her guests was im-
portant, listening to them was crucial, and Winfrey
demonstrated through her questions, exchanges,
tone of voice, and body language that she was clearly
able to do that.
Impact Viewers became like Winfrey’s extended
family. Her influence—not only on women and Afri-
can Americans but on Americans of all other races
and cultures as well—was profound. Her strong mes-
sage that the power to change comes from within was
reflected in her phenomenal success.
Further Reading
Adler, Bill, ed.The Uncommon Wisdom of Oprah Winfrey.
Secaucus, N.J.: Carol, 1997.
Bly, Nellie.Oprah! Up Close and Down Home. New
York: Kensington, 1993.
Garson, Helen S.Oprah Winfrey: A Biography.West-
port, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2004.
King, Norman.Ever ybody Loves Oprah!New York: Wil-
liam Morrow, 1987.
Krohn, Catherine.Oprah Winfrey.Minneapolis: Ler-
ner, 2002.
Mair, George.Oprah Winfrey.New York: Carol, 1994.
Waldron, Robert.Oprah!New York: St. Martin’s Press,
1988.
Elizabeth B. GrahamSee also Academy Awards; African Americans;
Color Purple, The; Film in the United States; Spiel-
berg, Steven; Talk shows; Television; Women in the
workforce.Women in rock music
Definition Female singers and musicians in
several genres of popular musicIn the 1980’s, the most obvious accomplishment made by
women in rock music pertained to sheer quantity, with fe-
male singers and instrumentalists making their presence
known in greater numbers than ever before. More subtly, the1050 Women in rock music The Eighties in America
Oprah Winfrey relaxes in her office in December, 1985, after a morning broadcast of her local Chicago, Illinois, show. The show was syndi-
cated nationally the following year.(AP/Wide World Photos)