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Abstract
Despite important inroads, women’s marginalization in the public sphere is still very real. From a feminist theoretical perspective, and informed by Guy Debord’s conceptualization of the society of spectacle, this study examines local and national newspaper coverage of Wendy Davis’s filibuster to block an abortion-restricting bill in the Texas State legislature in 2013. Qualitative and quantitative assessments show that gender was particularly encoded and marked in the mediated discourse, with reports focusing on Davis’ personal life and giving her celebrity status. The filibuster became a political spectacle that reified dominant gender values and norms.
Notes
1. The Texas Senate began considering the bill during a special session around 11 am of 25 June 2013. Davis had said she would talk as many hours as needed to delay the vote until the session ended at midnight, an unlikely result. Eventually, the bill passed on a second special session.
2. The wording was later analyzed qualitatively.