The Reconstruction of Masculinity in Conservative Political Discourses

Abstract

The phenomena of conservatism and masculinity can be considered as two closely related concepts because they have many common points. Because they have historically had mutual functions that feed and produce each other. It is possible to say that conservative politics has an aim to sustain masculinity. Trying to protect the patriarchal values that have been formed from the past to the present is the main reason for this purpose. Therefore, it is necessary to say that expressions of masculinity are very common in conservative political discourses. In this context, the aim of our research is to critically analyse the expressions of masculinity reflected in the discourses of members of conservative political party in power in Turkey. The texts within the scope of the research were analysed using the Critical Discourse Analysis method. According to the findings obtained as a result of Critical Discourse Analysis (semantic analysis, formal structure analysis and mental model analysis), it has been revealed that social, political, cultural and ideological structures related to the reconstruction of masculinity take place in conservative political discourses. The similarity between the language used by conservative politics and the expressions addressing the nature of masculinity proves this situation.

Keywords

• conservative politics
• conservative political discourse
• masculinity
• construction of masculinity
• critical discourse analysis.
• muhafazakâr siyaset
• muhafazakâr siyasi söylem
• erkeklik
• erkekliğin i̇nşası
• eleştirel söylem analizi.