The following thesis uses Critical Discourse Analysis to perform a qualitative examination of four statements made by pro-choice campaigners during the 2018 abortion legalisation campaign in...Show moreThe following thesis uses Critical Discourse Analysis to perform a qualitative examination of four statements made by pro-choice campaigners during the 2018 abortion legalisation campaign in Argentina. On August 8th, 2018 the Argentinian Senate held a historic vote in which they rejected the request to make reproductive laws less restrictive. The following work hypothesises that the statements released by pro-choice campaigners were made to rebel against the concepts of marianismo and motherhood in order to attempt to reconstruct the traditional female gender identity in Argentina. It finds that the campaigners used the discourse within their statements to try to create a new framework for Argentinian women in which they could rebel against the traditional constraints of marianismo and redefine their position in society. Furthermore, within the statements, the research identifies the formation of a collective sisterhood against patriarchal institutions and oppressive structures.Show less
Despite their deeply patriarchal and macho culture, Latin America, and more recently Turkey, have seen a rise of female leaders in national politics. This paper’s intention is to explain this...Show moreDespite their deeply patriarchal and macho culture, Latin America, and more recently Turkey, have seen a rise of female leaders in national politics. This paper’s intention is to explain this phenomenon by studying the impact of local culture and the gender roles that it engenders on the political behaviour of female politicians, and how female leaders make use of those gender roles to gain popularity and support. The paper runs through the local history and culture of the aforementioned regions with respect to female presence in politics, and exposes the male/female leadership models used by female politicians. Thence, it takes a deeper look into three contemporary female political figures, each corresponding to a different female leadership model: Cristina Kirchner for “wife”, Michelle Bachelet for “daughter”, and Meral Akşener for “neither”, signifying an independent female leader. The results obtained through visual and Critical Discourse Analysis reveal that the three scrutinized female politicians resort to both female and male gender roles, enabling them to benefit from the advantages of both gender roles, consequently increasing their political popularity and grip on power.Show less
