Feminising the French Language: A Political Debate. Analysis of the feminisation of titles and higher professions debate in French Public Media

Valentine LABOUHEURE

Master's thesis

Analysis of the feminisation of titles and higher professions debate in French Public Media

Abstract:

This thesis concentrates on the evolution of women occupying positions of high responsibility in France and examine to what extent the French society does accept linguistic modifications which support gender equality, and consider if it is still hard for France to accept women and men as equal in its official language. More precisely, this thesis focuses on the following questions: To what extent does the France refuse to provide feminine nouns to higher positions occupied by women? Which actors are involved in this process and how do they influence the society on this matter? To answer these questions, we will here focus on French popular media positions? At the same time, we try to answer how do politicians handle the problem posed by gender inequalities in the language? What is the interaction between the different actors of the debate? How and to which extent do they influence each other and, therefore, gender equality in the French language? More precisely, to which extend does the discourse of the French Academy or of pro-feminisation defender influence French media? And is there still a division between left and right politicians on this matter? In other words, this thesis examines if the visibility of women holding positions of responsibility is still difficult to be accepted and what are the different arguments of today´s French language feminisation debate.

Abstract:

This thesis concentrates on the evolution of women occupying positions of high responsibility in France and examine to what extent the French society does accept linguistic modifications which support gender equality, and consider if it is still hard for France to accept women and men as equal in its official language. More precisely, this thesis focuses on the following questions: To what extent does the France refuse to provide feminine nouns to higher positions occupied by women? Which actors are involved in this process and how do they influence the society on this matter? To answer these questions, we will here focus on French popular media positions? At the same time, we try to answer how do politicians handle the problem posed by gender inequalities in the language? What is the interaction between the different actors of the debate? How and to which extent do they influence each other and, therefore, gender equality in the French language? More precisely, to which extend does the discourse of the French Academy or of pro-feminisation defender influence French media? And is there still a division between left and right politicians on this matter? In other words, this thesis examines if the visibility of women holding positions of responsibility is still difficult to be accepted and what are the different arguments of today´s French language feminisation debate.

Keywords

Language feminisation, French language, Gender equality, Media analysis

Language used: Czech

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 1. 6. 2017

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Mgr. Martin Pleško, Ph.D.

PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY OLOMOUC

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Human Studies / Euroculture