CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: COSMOPOLITAN/ NOVA AND THE CREATION/MAINTENANCE OF A CONSERVATIVE VIEW OF FEMALE SEXUALITY

Abstract

In this work I investigate how the female gender, especially concerning sexuality, is constructed by the discourses used in Cosmopolitan magazine. Based on the British theories of Critical Discourse analysis, which consider both linguistic and socio-cultural characteristics of a text, I argue that Cosmopolitan offers its readers the pleasures of voyeurism, transgression and escapism, among others, while at the same time it creates and reinforces conservative, sexist and prescriptive notions about sexuality and gender relations.