Talk Like a Man, Walk Like a Woman: An Advanced Political Communication Framework for Female Politicians

• In Event: Gender Discourses in Professional Practices

Abstract

One of the most significant developments of the past decade in the political arena has been the integration of women into senior political positions. Previously, there was a common assumption that female politicians wishing to succeed had to adopt the male communication model, both verbally and nonverbally. This study aims to examine the communication patterns of women in the political sphere. Twenty-four speeches by 12 female politicians in senior political positions from five democratic Western countries were analysed. All speeches were delivered in the respective countries’ legislatures, between 2009-2012. This study presents a theoretical framework that maps the stereotypical gender patterns of verbal/nonverbal communication. The findings delineate an advanced communication model that indicates that female politicians’ communication consists of a combination of feminine nonverbal communication patterns and masculine verbal communicative expressions. The study expands the theoretical and analytical research on female politicians and develops a gender-communication approach to political communication.

Authors

• Tsfira Grebelsky-Lichtman, Hebrew University and Ono Academic Colledge

• Liron Bdolach, Hebrew U of Jerusalem