An approach to the appraisal of gender discrimination in three Chilean newspapers

Authors

  • Silvana Guerrero González Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
  • Valeska Muller González Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Abstract

This research study analyzes, from a qualitative point of view, the manner in wich three national newspapers -El Mercurio, La Nación and El Mostrador- build the evaluation representation on the subject of gender discrimination within the context of the zamudio case and the Antidiscrimination Law, in light of the Appraisal Theory (White 2004; Martin 2005; Martin y White 2005; Martin y Rose2007; Hood 2010; Kaplan 2004; Oteíza 2006; Oteíza and Merino2012). To that effect, three stories on the attack on Daniel Zamudio were analyzed, primarily focusing on the manner in wich the identity of a non-gay us, against this sexual orientation, is presented as opposed to a gay or gay-supporting them. The findings of this research account for the relevance of evaluations in the Chilean press. El Mercurio is confirmed as a conservative newpapers that aims at a high socio-cultural level, concerned with the decisions that regulate life in society. La Nación, in turn, establishes it self as the government channel, evaluating the actions of the current government and those of the former. Finally, El Mostrador positions itself as a more combatant medium, where the discussion among different social actors that belong to this newspapers is transmitted without censorship. Consequently, the discourse of the mass media constitutes a social practice whose power is generally symbolic and persuasive, where a variety of resources belonging to the semantic systems analyzed is displayed.

Keywords:

Appraisal theory, gender discrimination, newspapers