title: Cross-cultural discourse analysis of Saudi women's representation in British and Saudi media: stereotypes, and reader’s reactions
Creators: name: Althobiti, Mashael Ayed
Publisher: name: University of Reading
Year: 2024

description: This thesis examines the portrayal of Saudi women in British and Saudi newspapers from April 25,
2016, to April 25, 2020. Using corpus-assisted methods and critical discourse analysis, the research
delves into the impact of Saudi Vision 2030. Three corpora (British broadsheets, tabloids, and Saudi
newspapers) were examined, revealing shared themes like "People," "Law and Order," and "Rights
and Freedom." Positive coverage of developments such as the lifting of driving bans is observed in
both British and Saudi media. However, differences emerge: British media focuses on controversies
and challenges, emphasising dissent, violence, and clothing choices, potentially oversimplifying
cultural nuances. In contrast, Saudi newspapers prioritise social cohesion, empowerment, and positive
narratives, depicting Saudi women as active agents in society. This study emphasises the need to
critically analyse media representations, promote gender equality, and challenge stereotypes. It
significantly contributes to the discourse on gender representation in the media.
The lack of comparative research on media representations of Saudi women constitutes a significant
gap in the existing literature. In the second study, I address this scarcity by focusing on stereotypical
portrayals of Saudi women in articles. This analysis involves examining a smaller sample from the
main corpora, including articles from Al Riyadh, The Guardian, and The Times. To conduct a more in-depth qualitative analysis, I employ van Leeuwen's Social Actor Approach, allowing for a nuanced
exploration of the portrayals of Saudi women in the selected media articles. The findings reveal distinct
patterns in media representations: British media predominantly employ activated foregrounded
inclusion, emphasising active roles, yet subtly reinforcing social stereotypes. British newspapers, in
contrast to Saudi articles, often highlight Saudi women's activism, framing them primarily as protestors
and recipients of societal change. This nuanced portrayal challenges traditional stereotypes but at the
same time perpetuates certain social biases. On the other hand, Saudi articles predominantly employ
activated backgrounded inclusion, depicting women as beneficiaries of external actions, although
functionalization in these articles challenges prevailing Western stereotypes by highlighting influential
positions held by Saudi women. Despite these nuances, the research underscores the evolving narrative
around Saudi women, emphasising their multifaceted roles while also shedding light on persistent
social stereotypes prevalent in British media coverage.
Furthermore, the third study explores individuals' responses on Twitter to articles shared by the official
accounts of @Alriyadh and @Guardian, examining whether these responses display similarities or
differences across diverse social and cultural backgrounds. By applying Martin and White's Appraisal
Theory, the analysis specifically focuses on attitudes towards the issues concerning Saudi women
discussed in the shared articles. The findingsindicate that reactionsto tweetsfrom Al-Riyadh primarily
consist of appreciation, followed by judgment, and affect. Most comments express support for the
reforms, demonstrating a favourable impression and response. However, conflicting responses are
evident through negative appreciation and negative evaluations of human behaviour within the
judgment category. Affect appears less frequently but predominantly conveys positive emotions.
Similar patterns are observed in reactions to tweets from The Guardian, with positive appreciation
being the most common mode of response. Negative appreciation also constitutes a substantial
proportion, while the judgment category primarily manifests negative sentiments. Affect, as the least
frequently employed category, underscores the prevalence of positive emotional expressions.
In summary, this thesis offers a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the representation of Saudi
women in British and Saudi newspapers, highlighting the implications of political and cultural
transformations and the impact of different cultural/pollical perspectives on the representations of 
Saudi women. It challenges stereotypes and reveals women's active roles and contributions in society.
Additionally, it explores individuals' responses on Twitter, indicating support for reforms and varying
sentiments. The research contributes significantly to understanding evolving media representations
and societal perceptions of Saudi women.