Kobiecość vs męskość w kreowaniu obrazu Beaty Szydło na okładkach wybranych polskich tygodników opinii w latach 2015–2018

Abstract

The article presents the results of quantitative and qualitative analysis of texts and illustrations on the covers of selected opinion weeklies (Polityka, Newsweek Polska, Wprost, Sieci, Do Rzeczy) in 2015–2018, in which Beata Szydło, the former Prime Minister of Poland, appeared. The research was aimed at showing whether the politician’s image created in the materials studied was built by displaying her masculine or feminine features. In addition, the research questions concerned the role the editors attributed to Beata Szydło and whether the political preferences of the editorial board could have had an impact on the creation of her image on the covers? The analyses showed that the politician was perceived through the prime minister’s function and equipped mainly with features situated on the masculinity scale. Also conveying that the political preferences of the editorial board affected the way it was presented on the covers of opinion weeklies. In addition, the obtained results concluded that the image of Beata Szydło, created on the covers of opinion magazines, is a combination of the masculine and feminine model of leadership. The presented research should be a signal for further discussion not only on the media representation of women, but also on its possible impact on the presence of women in political life, as well as the influence of the editorial board’s political preferences on the created image of women engaged in political life, therefore regular research in this area seem to be fully justified.