The representation(s) of Saudi women pre-driving era in local newspapers and magazines: a critical discourse analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the online representation(s) of Saudi women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with respect to the use of language functions. It aims to identify the particular ways in which Saudi women are represented, as well as the ideologies behind the style of representation, specifically focusing on the timeframe of pre-driving era. As a case study, 17 articles from Saudi newspapers and magazines published online between the 6th and 23rd of March 2016 (a time frame surrounding International Woman’s Day) were examined by using critical discourse analysis. Applying the analytical model of van Leeuwen’s 1993 framework reveals that Saudi women are depicted as active within Saudi society, driven by their beliefs yet they present themselves as independent members of the society. Their great attributes, achievements, and discoveries are often mentioned, praised, and appreciated in online texts. However, there are some authors who claim that there is still room for improvement in terms of gender equality in Saudi society. In general, we found that online sources tend to be neutral in tackling women’s issues.