Australia's first woman prime minister, Julia Gillard, experienced widespread sexism and misogyny... more Australia's first woman prime minister, Julia Gillard, experienced widespread sexism and misogyny in the media coverage of her ascension. Only a decade previously New Zealand's first elected woman prime minister, Helen Clark, rose to the top job with comparably little gendered coverage. This article compares how the print media portrayed Gillard and Clark in the first three weeks of their respective prime ministerial terms to understand why, despite both being leaders from centre-left Labor/Labour parties, there was such a significant difference in their media treatment. Three newspapers from each country were analysed using a feminist content analysis, in addition to interviews conducted with Gillard and Clark, to understand why this was the case. This study establishes that there were two key reasons: the political context in which both leaders ascended and the stark differences in the print media landscapes, particularly the conservatism of the Australian press.
This article compares how the print media portrayed Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May in the firs... more This article compares how the print media portrayed Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May in the first three weeks of their respective prime ministerial terms. Examining the similarities and differences between the media coverage of the two leaders, who ascended to the prime ministerial role almost 40 years apart, helps us understand how mainstream media coverage concentrates on the gendered differences of women political leaders from the masculine leadership norm. Seven major daily newspapers were examined, using feminist content analysis and feminist critical discourse analysis. The study revealed that, contrary to expectations, not only was there more attention to May’s gender than to Thatcher’s, but it was also more detailed and elaborate, particularly in the conservative press.
All rights reserved. by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. unemployment, and had my girlf... more All rights reserved. by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. unemployment, and had my girlfriend become a best friend. As this all happened, the thesis changed from a simple catalog of historical events into three unique historical claims, something I never foresaw a year ago. A year later, almost to the day, I am happy to say the thesis, and I, survived. I would like to acknowledge many people for their help in producing this paper. To all the coffee shops I sat in for hours and bought only a small soda: I apologize. Your internet was much appreciated. To my advising professors and colleagues I send my thanks for a helpful and patient ear. Matt Stanley, in particular, deserves many thanks for reading and commenting on numerous drafts. To Meghan I credit all my smiles-the best gift she ever gave me. To my dad I give infinite gratitude for all his hard work; if it wasn't for his lessons I would still be making minimum wage at the bookstore. And no words represent my gratitude to my mother. She taught me love is just too valuable to feel for even a second without it. Her courage is my courage. And to those debating the anthropic principle-may you one day find an answer. If it really is the accidental universe, then the writing of this paper is just a cosmic coincidence.
In contemporary Australian politics, challenges to the Prime Ministerial role have become more co... more In contemporary Australian politics, challenges to the Prime Ministerial role have become more common. Australia saw five Prime Ministers from 2010 to 2015 including Australia’s first ever woman Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. A stark contrast is evident in media portrayals of Gillard and her male counterparts, apparent most recently in the response to Malcolm Turnbull’s ascension to the Prime Ministership. A range of evidence has been produced, in disciplines including political science and media studies, suggesting the existence of systemic gender bias in the mainstream media in English-speaking democracies. This article is the first to compare the media portrayals of Gillard and Turnbull’s respective ascensions to leadership, which it does drawing on Judith Butler’s concept of gender performativity and using a content and discourse analysis. It contributes further evidence of gender bias in the coverage of political leaders.
... _____ PHOTO: US Army SSG Clarence Washington, Provincial Reconstruc-tion Team Zabul security ... more ... _____ PHOTO: US Army SSG Clarence Washington, Provincial Reconstruc-tion Team Zabul security forces squad leader, takes accountability after ... Nassim Taleb describes black swans as historical events that surprised humanity because they were thought of as non ...
Australia's first woman prime minister, Julia Gillard, experienced widespread sexism and misogyny... more Australia's first woman prime minister, Julia Gillard, experienced widespread sexism and misogyny in the media coverage of her ascension. Only a decade previously New Zealand's first elected woman prime minister, Helen Clark, rose to the top job with comparably little gendered coverage. This article compares how the print media portrayed Gillard and Clark in the first three weeks of their respective prime ministerial terms to understand why, despite both being leaders from centre-left Labor/Labour parties, there was such a significant difference in their media treatment. Three newspapers from each country were analysed using a feminist content analysis, in addition to interviews conducted with Gillard and Clark, to understand why this was the case. This study establishes that there were two key reasons: the political context in which both leaders ascended and the stark differences in the print media landscapes, particularly the conservatism of the Australian press.
This article compares how the print media portrayed Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May in the firs... more This article compares how the print media portrayed Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May in the first three weeks of their respective prime ministerial terms. Examining the similarities and differences between the media coverage of the two leaders, who ascended to the prime ministerial role almost 40 years apart, helps us understand how mainstream media coverage concentrates on the gendered differences of women political leaders from the masculine leadership norm. Seven major daily newspapers were examined, using feminist content analysis and feminist critical discourse analysis. The study revealed that, contrary to expectations, not only was there more attention to May’s gender than to Thatcher’s, but it was also more detailed and elaborate, particularly in the conservative press.
All rights reserved. by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. unemployment, and had my girlf... more All rights reserved. by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. unemployment, and had my girlfriend become a best friend. As this all happened, the thesis changed from a simple catalog of historical events into three unique historical claims, something I never foresaw a year ago. A year later, almost to the day, I am happy to say the thesis, and I, survived. I would like to acknowledge many people for their help in producing this paper. To all the coffee shops I sat in for hours and bought only a small soda: I apologize. Your internet was much appreciated. To my advising professors and colleagues I send my thanks for a helpful and patient ear. Matt Stanley, in particular, deserves many thanks for reading and commenting on numerous drafts. To Meghan I credit all my smiles-the best gift she ever gave me. To my dad I give infinite gratitude for all his hard work; if it wasn't for his lessons I would still be making minimum wage at the bookstore. And no words represent my gratitude to my mother. She taught me love is just too valuable to feel for even a second without it. Her courage is my courage. And to those debating the anthropic principle-may you one day find an answer. If it really is the accidental universe, then the writing of this paper is just a cosmic coincidence.
In contemporary Australian politics, challenges to the Prime Ministerial role have become more co... more In contemporary Australian politics, challenges to the Prime Ministerial role have become more common. Australia saw five Prime Ministers from 2010 to 2015 including Australia’s first ever woman Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. A stark contrast is evident in media portrayals of Gillard and her male counterparts, apparent most recently in the response to Malcolm Turnbull’s ascension to the Prime Ministership. A range of evidence has been produced, in disciplines including political science and media studies, suggesting the existence of systemic gender bias in the mainstream media in English-speaking democracies. This article is the first to compare the media portrayals of Gillard and Turnbull’s respective ascensions to leadership, which it does drawing on Judith Butler’s concept of gender performativity and using a content and discourse analysis. It contributes further evidence of gender bias in the coverage of political leaders.
... _____ PHOTO: US Army SSG Clarence Washington, Provincial Reconstruc-tion Team Zabul security ... more ... _____ PHOTO: US Army SSG Clarence Washington, Provincial Reconstruc-tion Team Zabul security forces squad leader, takes accountability after ... Nassim Taleb describes black swans as historical events that surprised humanity because they were thought of as non ...
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