Gender, Nationalism, and Media in Authoritarian Russia: Shifts in Gender Discourse Before and After the Invasion of Ukraine (2020–2024)

Mass media significantly influences public consciousness and social norms, particularly in authoritarian regimes, where they are used as a tool of state propaganda. This study aims to analyze gender discourse in Russian media from 2020 to 2024, covering periods before and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to identify the mechanisms by which the typologies of women are formed and how they are represented in different media frames, and how these trends shift under the influence of political and social factors. The study’s central research question is: How are gender themes and typologies of women presented across different media frames in Russian media discourse? The research also investigates how gender discourse in Russian media has evolved between the pre-invasion period (2020–2022) and the post-invasion period (2022–2024). It examines the differences between state-controlled and independent media in their portrayals of gender roles and feminism. Hypotheses involve the assumptions that the invasion of Ukraine strengthened the accent on traditional gender roles in state-controlled media, connecting gender discourse with nationalistic rhetoric and presenting feminism as an external threat. Independent media, despite the censorship, is trying to oppose these images and suggest alternative narratives. The methodology includes longitudinal and content analysis, focusing on comparative analysis of state-controlled and independent media. The research examines 120 articles published by the Russian state media and independent outlets. The comparative analysis highlights the differences in covering gender topics: state-controlled media focuses on traditional values, while independent media outlets offer other points of view. These results enhance understanding of the media's role in authoritarian regimes. They show how the state media use gender narratives to consolidate ideology and power, representing women as caregivers and men as defenders. At the same time, independent media offer alternative views, confronting the marginalization of feminism, which highlights the media's influence on public opinion.