Maryam Ameen Hassoun  

12/3/2025  

Feminist Stylistics in Political Speech: 

Queen Rania’s Address at the World Women’s Forum 2016

Feminist stylistics is a linguistic approach that promotes gender equality and highlights the role of women in society through language as a tool to challenge prevailing gender stereotypes. This approach is closely related to the feminist movement, which advocates for women’s rights and full equality between women and men in various aspects of social, political, and economic life. In political speech, feminist stylistics can take multiple forms, often involving the use of language that supports women’s empowerment and enhances their societal role.

In this context, Queen Rania’s speech at the World Women’s Forum in Dubai in 2016 serves as a prominent example of feminist stylistics in political speech. Queen Rania utilized several linguistic strategies aimed at empowering women in the Arab world, focusing on traditional social perceptions and societal concepts that limit women’s opportunities. These linguistic strategies illustrate how language can be an effective tool in shaping societal views on gender and transforming the traditional outlook on women’s status.

One of the prominent linguistic tools in Queen Rania’s speech is inclusive language, which promotes gender integration by avoiding linguistic distinctions between men and women. In feminist stylistics, the use of feminine terms plays a significant role in emphasizing women’s societal roles. For instance, Queen Rania states, “The expectations society has of women are simply a reflection of how much it believes in their abilities and their added value.” Through this statement, Queen Rania avoids using gender-distinguishing language, instead portraying women as active and influential members of society. Additionally, the direct use of feminine terms underscores women’s role as a powerful force that contributes to the building of society.

Moreover, the speech prominently features affirmative verbs (such as “must,” “we can,” and “deserves”) as tools to reinforce the concept of gender equality. Affirmative verbs play a significant role in shaping a positive image of women in political speech, reflecting the importance of women’s empowerment across various fields. These verbs also help stimulate society to make changes and progress in 

١

addressing gender issues. Through these verbs, Queen Rania reinforces the idea that women deserve the same opportunities as men to achieve progress and growth.

At the rhetorical level, Queen Rania’s speech includes metaphors that highlight the messages she seeks to convey. In one instance, she says, “A woman is a fruitful tree… a tree created to nurture… always giving more than it receives.” This metaphor is not merely a linguistic embellishment but serves to convey a powerful message about women’s roles in society, their potential to foster social change, and their capacity to grow and give. By using this metaphor, she presents women as agents of social transformation, breaking free from traditional constraints.

In terms of cultural and religious reference, Queen Rania continues to emphasize the role of women in Islamic society. For example, she says, “When Islam illuminated the world, it granted women rights, status, and choices that elevated their standing from the oppression of the pre-Islamic era.” This statement highlights how women’s rights in Islam align with modern feminist concepts, reinforcing the credibility of feminist stylistics within the Arab cultural context.

Regarding the concept of gender equality, the speech is rich in terms that focus on social justice and balance between the sexes. Queen Rania uses words such as “justice,” “balance,” and “equal opportunities” to explain how gender equality should be deeply embedded as a fundamental societal value across all domains. In this way, the speech presents feminist stylistics as a call for achieving true equality between men and women in all areas of societal life.

In conclusion, Queen Rania’s speech at the 2016 World Women’s Forum serves as a powerful example of feminist stylistics in political speech. She employs a range of linguistic tools, such as inclusive language, affirmative verbs, metaphors, and cultural references, to communicate a message about empowering women and promoting gender equality. Through these linguistic strategies, it is evident how language is not merely a means of communication but a powerful tool that can contribute to changing societal perceptions and enhancing the role of women in Arab societies.

٢