Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May: a feminist pragmatic analysis of Prime Minister’s Questions

Ridge-Vesty, S, 2025. Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May: a feminist pragmatic analysis of Prime Minister’s Questions. PhD, Nottingham Trent University.

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Abstract

This study takes a combined feminist post-structural discourse analysis (Baxter, 2003) and Feminist Pragmatic Analysis (Christie, 2000) approach to investigating the discursive constructions of gender identities and authority by women Prime Ministers. Based on data collected from Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) sessions during the premierships of Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May, this analysis explores how Thatcher and May conform to, adapt, or resist their institutionally prescribed placements within these discourses. I find that both Thatcher and May discursively construct moments of power for themselves via a combination of stereotypically feminine and masculine interactional styles, including the use rapport management strategies (Spencer-Oatey, 2008) and patronising behaviours. A secondary analysis of newspaper articles reporting on their performances explores how their use of these gendered linguistic behaviours informs representations of their abilities as Prime Minister, and how the standards of femininity by which they are judged have evolved over time. I find that both Thatcher and May were described using role trap discourses (Kanter, 1993) to evaluate their performances in relation to existing gender role stereotypes, and both women were negatively evaluated for a perceived lack of stereotypical feminine
behaviours.

Item Type:	Thesis
Creators:	Ridge-Vesty, S.
Contributors:	Name Role NTU ID ORCID Allwood, G. Thesis supervisor MOD3ALLWOG https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2564-7145 Mullany, L. Thesis supervisor GDS3MULLAL UNSPECIFIED
Date:	February 2025
Rights:	The copyright in this work is held by the author. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, or personal, non-commercial research. Any re-use of the information contained within this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed to the author.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Borcherds
Date Added:	28 Nov 2025 16:05
Last Modified:	28 Nov 2025 16:05
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/54828

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