Women in the political field: discourse grammars around gender in the context of impeachment

Abstract

In this essay we investigate the media discourses about gender disseminated in three distinct moments of contemporary Brazilian politics: the election and inauguration of President Dilma Rousseff; the impeachment process initiated in December 2015 and completed in August 2016; and the establishment of Michel Temer's interim government. The analysis was carried out using journalistic articles published in newspapers, magazines and online portals in the country during the period of events (predominantly texts from the first half of 2016). In addition, we analyzed the comments of Internet users related to the reports. The material studied revealed that the main statements expressed a resumption of domestic space as a place for women and emphasized an inability of women to assume important positions in public life, constituting themselves as arguments mobilized to legitimize Dilma's impediment.