Speaking Power: Gendered Representations of Authority in Televised Political Interviews

Abstract

In today’s media-driven world, the way political figures are spoken to, and about, on screen has a real impact on how we see leadership. This study takes a close look at televised political interviews to explore how gender and authority are shaped through language. By examining interviews with both male and female politicians from global news outlets, the research uncovers a pattern: women are more likely to be interrupted, asked emotionally charged questions, or framed in ways that subtly question their competence, while men are often allowed to speak freely and are portrayed as confident and authoritative. These differences are not always intentional, but they reflect deeper social beliefs about what a leader should “sound” like. Using tools from Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) , the paper highlights how everyday language can either uphold or challenge traditional power structures. In doing so, it calls for more thoughtful and equitable communication in journalism, especially as conversations around gender and representation continue to grow louder around the world.