Metaphors and Ideology – Gendered Metaphors in Economic Discourse

Under the theoretical wing of Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Critical Metaphor Analysis we deal with one specific aspect of economic discourse in English in an attempt to draw attention to the distinctively gendered metaphor of SLENDERNESS on which the concept of the ideal company is based today. The analysis is based on the notion of downsizing and metaphorical expressions that give linguistic voice to the LEAN IS HEALTHY metaphor. Our aim is to demonstrate how ideological values are subtly intertwined with metaphors in economic discourse, so that seemingly harmless metaphors support and reconstruct an aspect of social reality- an androcentric world view.