Muriel G. Cantor (1923–1995) was an American sociologist and professor emerita at American University in Washington, D.C. She is recognized for her significant contributions to the fields of mass communications, the sociology of work, and gender studies. Her research primarily focused on the institutional and organizational structures of the media industry and their impact on cultural production.
Cantor is best known for her pioneering studies on the television industry. Her work, The Hollywood TV Producer: His Work and His Audience (1971), provided an ethnographic and sociological analysis of the constraints faced by television producers. She argued that media content is shaped less by individual creativity and more by the organizational requirements of networks, advertising interests, and perceived audience demands. This perspective helped establish a framework for the "production of culture" perspective within sociology.
In addition to her work on media production, Cantor published extensively on the representation of women in television and the sociological aspects of popular culture. Her other notable works include Prime-Time Television: Content and Control (1980) and The Soap Opera (1983), the latter co-authored with Suzanne Pingree.
Throughout her career, Cantor was active in professional organizations. She served as the president of the Eastern Sociological Society and held leadership roles within the American Sociological Association (ASA). She was also a vocal advocate for the advancement of women in academia and the sociological profession. Cantor's scholarship remains a foundational reference for the study of the social organization of the mass media.