Iranian Sociological of Association Iranian Journal of Sociology 1735-1901 25 4 2025 01 20 Image of Women in Iranian Newspapers: Patriarchal Discourses and the Portrayal of Passive Subjects Image of Women in Iranian Newspapers: Patriarchal Discourses and the Portrayal of Passive Subjects 117 140 737323 10.22034/jsi.2025.2049047.1763 FA Bahar Atashkar PhD Student, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran 0000-0002-7083-4903 Ehsan Aqababaee Corresponding Author, Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran 0000-0002-9585-2016 Taghi Azadarmaki Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 0009-0001-3154-8226 Hamidreza Shairi Professor, French Language Department, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran : 0000-0001-5667-3827 Journal Article 2024 12 26 This study explores the portrayal of women in 1990s newspapers through the lens of social semiotics. This study aims to explore how female subjects are turned into passive subjects through stereotypes, cultural codes, and semiotic mechanisms. To achieve this<span dir="RTL" lang="FA">, </span>nine images were purposefully chosen and examined across three levels which are as follows: representational<span dir="RTL" lang="FA">, </span>interactive, and compositional. At the representational level, the images portray women as social victims, ideological subjects, or as being tied to power discourses. At the interactive level, the viewing angle, distances and missing gazes highlight the passivity and detachment of women from the social environment. Moreover, at the compositional level, the application of colors<span dir="RTL" lang="FA">, </span>layout, the inclusion or emphasis on certain elements, and lighting highlight the social and cultural restrictions imposed on women. The findings of the study reveal that the portrayal of women in this era was predominantly shaped by patriarchal, masculine and ideological discourses, which transformed female subjects into passive subjects<span dir="RTL" lang="FA">. </span> This study explores the portrayal of women in 1990s newspapers through the lens of social semiotics. This study aims to explore how female subjects are turned into passive subjects through stereotypes, cultural codes, and semiotic mechanisms. To achieve this<span dir="RTL" lang="FA">, </span>nine images were purposefully chosen and examined across three levels which are as follows: representational<span dir="RTL" lang="FA">, </span>interactive, and compositional. At the representational level, the images portray women as social victims, ideological subjects, or as being tied to power discourses. At the interactive level, the viewing angle, distances and missing gazes highlight the passivity and detachment of women from the social environment. Moreover, at the compositional level, the application of colors<span dir="RTL" lang="FA">, </span>layout, the inclusion or emphasis on certain elements, and lighting highlight the social and cultural restrictions imposed on women. The findings of the study reveal that the portrayal of women in this era was predominantly shaped by patriarchal, masculine and ideological discourses, which transformed female subjects into passive subjects<span dir="RTL" lang="FA">. </span> http://www.jsi-isa.ir/article_737323_f2818bc04faac3122ec3f8b1bed9b5da.pdf