'We no longer recognized her as a human being’ : A Critical Discourse Analysis of AI-generated character descriptions of men and women with dementia

Putland, Emma and Chikodzore-Paterson, Chris and Brookes, Gavin (2025) 'We no longer recognized her as a human being’ : A Critical Discourse Analysis of AI-generated character descriptions of men and women with dementia. Journal of Language and Discrimination, 9 (2). pp. 183-208.

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Abstract

Motivated by the gender inequalities observed in relation both to dementia and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), this article takes a critical discourse analysis approach to explore how gender and dementia intersect in 52 AI-generated character descriptions of men and women with dementia. Using “woman/man” as entry points through which to explore discursive constructions masculinities and femininities in the data, we find gendered distinctions in how characters’ bodies are evaluated, social roles attributed, and violence presented. We also find that a deficit approach to dementia dominates, emphasizing suffering, loss, and hopelessness. Characters with dementia are stereotyped as older and frail, either near death or already dead in body and/or mind. Overall, the AI-generated texts recycle (and potentially amplify) pervasive discourses regarding both dementia and gender. Our findings therefore reinforce the need for further critical engagement with GenAI, from design to use, to interrogate and challenge its capacity to perpetuate inequalities.