Advancing Gender Equality and Women Empowerment for Reshaping Societies: A Textual Meta-Functional Analysis of Helen Johnson Sirleaf’s Selected Speeches

Résumé

Abstract - This paper sets out to examine Helen Johnson Sirleaf’s selected speeches to
construe the message assigned through thematic selection and ultimately understand
how the orator tackles and ponders on gender matters through this. To carry out the
analysis, it uses Halliday’s metafunctional system of textual analysis to underline
meanings beyond surface. The methodology adopted for the analysis is the mixed
method, that is, both qualitative and quantitative approaches are applied. The
description of Theme patterns revealed that experiencers, doers, carriers, behavers,
sensors, bearers of actions and state (I, Women, We, people, leaders) are mainly thematized,
followed by challenges, bids and progress in gender fight. In addition, place and time
circumstances were much employed as message units by the speaker, leading to
important Markedness of Topical Themes. As regards Themes types, there were more
textual themes than Interpersonal ones. This signifies that the speaker carefully and
locally developed the message, though with less attitudinal expressions towards gender.
Through such a variety of topical elements, ‘Iron lady’ did a complete account of the
gender related issues, showing whom it concerns in time and places, its solemnity, the
challenges associated to it and progress achieved so far for the betterment of women life
condition in societies.
Keywords: textual analysis, message, gender, progress, society.