Gender and sexuality in Critical Discourse Studies

This chapter reviews Critical Discourse Studies focused on gender and sexuality, discussing some of the major strands of research in this area that are continuing into the present. It demonstrates how studies in feminist and queer Critical Discourse Analysis illuminate our understanding of how discrimination and exclusion are discursively realised and legitimised. The discussion is divided into three broad axes of discrimination: (1) sexism and misogyny; (2) heteronormativity, homophobia and homonormativity; and (3) bi-erasure, transphobia and anti-genderism. The studies charted here demonstrate the effects of cisheteropatriarchy and resistance and the close connection between queer and feminist agendas in challenging regressive ideologies.