Gender and Power Representation in Inta Eih by Nancy Ajram: Sara Mills’ Critical Discourse Analysis
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Abstract
This study aimed to analyze gender representation and power relations in the lyrics of the song Inta Eih by Nancy Ajram. A qualitative approach with a descriptive-analytic design was employed to understand and describe the phenomena in the song's lyrics. Data consisted of the song's lyrics, analyzed through Sara Mills' Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework. This approach helped uncover how language in the lyrics shaped subject positioning and power relations, as well as how gender was represented in the context of male-female relationships. Data collection was done through documentary techniques, including listening to the song and reading the lyrics. Data analysis involved identifying key aspects of the lyrics, such as subject representation, positioning (actor/object), reader positioning, and power dynamics between men and women. The findings were presented through analytical description, offering a deep interpretation of the data. The research found that the song highlights power imbalances, portraying the woman as an emotionally suffering object, and the man as the perpetrator. The woman's role as both victim and willing participant reflects societal expectations of gender roles. The analysis also critiques the normalization of emotional abuse in romantic relationships, a theme explored in feminist discourse.
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