Negative Media Frames and Female Politicians: A Case Study of Jamaica’s First Female Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller

Abstract

Abstract This study raises questions about how Jamaica’s first female prime minister, Portia Simpson-Miller, was portrayed in the media. This will be done through content analysis of editorial cartoons, covering the period in which Mrs Simpson-Miller occupied the highest public office in the country. An interesting finding from the study is that, unlike many female political leaders, media coverage of Simpson-Miller focused primarily on her performance as prime minister of Jamaica and less on her physical appearance and gender. The findings from this study will add to the wider discourse on the media’s portrayal of women in politics.