Are Women Constantly Gossiping?: A Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis of Gossip Gendered Stereotypes in the Series Emily in Paris

Abstract

[eng] This paper analyses gendered gossip stereotypes based on the female characters of the current Netflix television series Emily in Paris (2021). The object of analysis is a collection of excerpts from the script of the series’ second season and produced by some of the main female characters. The speech act of gossiping can be examined from a feminist perspective, giving relevance to the portrayal of sexist female-gendered representations in media. Thus, this essay’s methodology is based on a combination of Norman Fairclough’s three-dimension model in critical discourse analysis (CDA) together with a feminist critical discourse analysis coined by Michelle M. Lazar. The study of word choice analysis and social analysis makes it possible to examine if the perpetuation of stereotyped female representations in this television show increases the naturalisation of sexist ideologies upon the female gender. Although Emily in Paris (2021) may seem to empower the female gender, the FCDA results reveal that the pejorative portrayal of women, in terms of the gossip stereotype, appears to still be present in media discourse.