Women, Language and Politics

Investigates the underrepresentation of women in politics, by examining how language use constructs and maintains gender inequalities in political institutions.

Sylvia Shaw (Author)

9781107440265, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 October 2022

339 pages, 53 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.457 kg

'The primary strength of this book lies in its close examination of female politicians' actual linguistic performances … As such, this book makes a valuable contribution to the study of (women's) political discourse and is likely to appeal to those with an interest in the complex intersections of language, gender, politics, and power.' Caolan O'neill, Language in Society

This book addresses the problem of the underrepresentation of women in politics, by examining how language use constructs and maintains inequality in political institutions. Drawing on different political genres from televised debates to parliamentary question times, and fifty interviews with politicians between 1998 and 2018, the book identifies the barriers and obstacles women face by considering how gender stereotypes constrain women's participation, and give them additional burdens. By comparing the UK House of Commons with newer institutions such as the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly, it asks: how successful have newer institutions been in encouraging equal participation? What are the interactional procedures that can be thought of as making an institution more egalitarian? It also explores the workings and effects of sexism, fraternal networks, high visibility in the media, and gendered discourses, through detailed case studies of Theresa May, Julia Gillard and Hillary Clinton.

1. Introduction
2. Gender and language in political institutions
3. Women's linguistic participation in a traditional male-dominated forum: the UK House of Commons
4. Women's linguistic participation in the new devolved assemblies of the UK
5. Barriers to women's participation in politics
6 Case studies I: leading political women: Theresa May
7. Case studies II: leading political women: Julia Gillard and Hilary Clinton
8. Women, language and politics: gains and losses.

Subject Areas: Political leaders & leadership [JPHL], Gender studies: women [JFSJ1], Sociolinguistics [CFB]