Discourse analysis is a critical method for unpacking how language operates — shaping beliefs, strategies, and social realities. My work focuses on examining how discourse sustains systems of misconduct, reproduces authority structures, and enables oppressive practices like conversion practices. By scrutinizing the subtle rhetoric, “weasel words,” and ideological frameworks, I reveal how language functions as a tool of domination and resistance within institutions, religious fundamentalism, and social movements. This page details my approach to analyzing discourse to expose, challenge, and transform oppressive power relations embedded in everyday talk and institutional narratives.
Power in Language: The Foundation of Discourse Analysis
Power manifests through language. As Foucault argued, discourses are not simply reflections of reality but active forces that construct, normalize, and marginalize social truths. Whether in religious texts, organizational policies, or media narratives, discourse shapes what is “sayable” and “thinkable,” encoding values and ideologies that uphold social hierarchies. My analysis begins by identifying how specific linguistic patterns—such as euphemisms, passive constructions, or overgeneralizations—serve to conceal misconduct, justify harmful practices, or dismiss dissenting voices.
Weasel Words and Euphemisms as Tools of Ideology
Throughout my work, I observe how “weasel words”—vague, non-committal, or euphemistic language—are deployed to mask violence, moral failure, or misconduct. For instance, phrases like “traditional values,” “religious freedom,” or “healing the soul” serve as disingenuous shields that entrench harmful norms while appearing benign. These discursive strategies are especially prominent in debates around SOGICE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts), where proponents use language that cloaks coercive practices under the guise of “conversion,” “rehabilitation,” or “faith-based healing.” My discourse analysis critically deconstructs these narratives, exposing how such rhetoric obfuscates abuse and reinforces systemic injustice.
Analyzing Fundamentalist Discourses
Fundamentalist movements—religious, political, or social—deploy specific discursive frames to legitimate authority and suppress dissent. Key tactics include authoritative assertions, selective scriptural or ideological citations, and moral panic narratives that demonize marginalized groups[8]. My work involves examining how these discourses—whether in sermons, policy documents, or social media—create “us versus them” binaries. In the context of SOGICE, such discourse often frames same-sex attraction or gender non-conformity as dangerous, sinful, or incurable, mobilizing moral panic to justify abusive interventions.
Discourse and the Construction of Moral Authority
Many fundamentalist narratives rely on constructed moral authority—claiming divine endorsement or moral superiority—embedded within their discourse. Analysis reveals how their language constructs a “moral hierarchy,” positioning their worldview as the only “true” or “faithful” path, while dismissing opposition as immoral or heretical. My work seeks to unravel these constructions, exposing their rhetorical devices and enabling critical counter-discourse rooted in liberation, justice, and lived experience.
Application: Challenging and Reshaping Discourse
My approach combines critique of dominant narratives with strategies for counter-discourse: fostering voice, building alternative narratives, and disrupting the language of oppression. In coaching or consulting settings, I facilitate training sessions and workshops that teach clients to decode ideological language, craft affirming counter-narratives, and leverage discourse as a tool for resistance. This work supports survivors, advocates, and organizations committed to exposing and dismantling systems of misconduct rooted in discursive power.
Methodology: From Text to Transformation
- Identifying Weasel Words: Systematic coding of language patterns that obscure misconduct (e.g., “reparative therapy,” “treatments,” “spiritual guidance”).
- Contextual Analysis: Examining how discourse functions within specific environments—church sermons, legal texts, social media—highlighting ideological frames.
- Power Mapping: Connecting language patterns to broader power structures—patriarchy, heteronormativity, religious authority—that sustain misconduct.
- Counter-Discourse Design: Co-creating narratives, slogans, and framing devices that challenge oppressive rhetoric and amplify survivor voices.
Working Together: Next Steps
Want to identify, challenge, and transform the discourse sustaining misconduct and fundamentalist oppression? Book a free consultation to discuss how discourse analysis can serve your advocacy or healing work. My approach emphasizes critical awareness, strategic messaging, and collective resistance.
Reach out through the Contact page to begin.
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