The Extent of Gender Sensitivity in the Language of the Discussion Papers Produced by King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

This study investigates the extent of gender sensitivity in the language of the Seven Discussion Papers (DPs) produced by Jordan’s King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein (KAII). The DPs came as a series of papers directed to Jordanians to lay down the KAII’s vision of achieving a comprehensive reform in Jordan. In this study, gender sensitivity is determined by the extent to which men and women are addressed equally in the language of the DPs. The study employs the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) approach. In implementing the qualitative content analysis methodology, the findings show that KAII employed several linguistic strategies that were instrumental in producing a highly gender-sensitive language. These are the strategy of referring to both men and women simultaneously, the strategy of using inclusive terms, the strategy of using gender-neutral terms, and the strategy of using examples including both men and women. a gender perspective, the study found that the language used in the DPs differs from that used in the prevailing political discourse. The findings imply that Arabic, which is generally labelled as a gendered language, can be gender-sensitive if its users have the right attitudes and the right linguistic strategies to change the existing prevailing norms.