Queen Sofia of Spain as the embodiment of traditionalist womanhood. Analysis of the gossip press coverage on the Queen from 2011 to 2014

Abstract

The article analyses framing of Queen Sofia by the Spanish gossip press as an embodiment of the traditionalist model of womanhood existing in Spain. The paper presents results from the content analysis of extensive press coverage on the Consort (173 articles published between May 2011 and May 2014) from the leading gossip magazine ¡Hola! Through the use of gender stereotypes’ categorization, it displays a coherence between the content of the Queen’s discourse in the magazine and the conservative vision of womanhood developed within the Spanish patriarchal model. Final results show that despite a superficial modernization of the Queen’s image obtained thanks to the fact of focusing the discourse on her public activity, ¡Hola! frame on Queen Sofia corresponds to the portrayal of the ideal of traditionalist Spanish woman. She is thus presented in roles of a mother, grandmother and wife rather than an independent and professionally accomplished woman. Moreover, she is described as a strongly emotional woman, worshipping her family, whose public actions are motivated more by a feeling of obligation toward her family and the country than by a will of having a professional career.