Lakhasly

Conference Report: A Corpus-assisted Critical Approach to Saudi Women Representations in BBC News.

Introduction:
In the evolving socio-political context of Saudi Arabia, the portrayal of women in media holds significant importance. This study aims to analyze how Saudi women are depicted in BBC news narratives, focusing on the intricate layers of identity construction and social categorization within these representations.
Objectives and Inquiry:
Our primary goal is to dissect the portrayal of Saudi women in BBC news discourse, addressing questions regarding their depiction, emergence of additional social categories, and the diverse roles and identities attributed to them. Through this inquiry, we seek to illuminate the underlying dynamics shaping media representations of Saudi women.
Methodological Approach:
By employing a corpus-assisted analytical framework, we extract data from BBC news archives spanning from 2008 to 2018. Utilizing tools such as Wmatrix and Sketch Engine, we explore lexical patterns and semantic nuances to gain insights into the discursive construction of social actors and roles. This approach allows for a comprehensive examination of language use and its implications for the portrayal of Saudi women in BBC news.
In-depth Analysis:

• Examining Generic Representations: Through collocational analysis and word sketching, we uncover prevailing linguistic patterns and semantic associations surrounding Saudi women in BBC news discourse, revealing overarching themes and stereotypes. For example, we found that terms like "oppressed" and "veiled" often co-occur with mentions of Saudi women, reflecting common stereotypes prevalent in media representations.


• Analyzing Specified Actors: A meticulous examination of individual social actors reveals nuanced gender subcategories, shedding light on the diverse roles and attributes within the discourse. We observed variations in the portrayal of Saudi women depending on the context and the social actors involved, indicating the complexity of their representation.


• Exploring Textual Representations: Extended concordance line analyses delve into the portrayal of Saudi women, unveiling underlying power dynamics and agency distribution within the narrative fabric. Through this analysis, we identified instances where Saudi women were positioned as passive recipients of actions or decisions made by male counterparts, highlighting power imbalances in media representations.
  Key Findings:
  Our analysis reveals unequal gender representations, with specified men categories projecting dominance and action-oriented roles, while Saudi women are often depicted in passive or subordinate positions. This reflects entrenched patriarchal structures and hegemonic ideologies prevalent in both Saudi society and global media discourse.
  Conclusion and Personal Reflections:
  This study underscores the significant influence of language in shaping societal perceptions and power dynamics, highlighting the need to challenge stereotypes and advocate for inclusive representations. While this report captures the essence of our study, it may not encompass all points or details discussed during the session.
  Opinion on the Session by Dr. Zainah Alshahrani:
  Dr. Zainah Alshahrani's session provided valuable insights into Saudi women's representations in BBC news discourse, navigating language, power, and identity dynamics adeptly. Her expertise enriched scholarly discourse and sparked further exploration in gender representation and discourse analysis among attendees. Her discussion on the nuances of media representations prompted critical reflection and inspired attendees to delve deeper into the complexities of gender portrayal in media narratives.