Faucaldian Discourse Analysis is often used - which is a qualitative method. There is quite a bit on it and it is good for gendered identities as is looks at not only how we socially construct our gendered identify but also the power plays involved. Discourse Analysis alone is also good, as is content analysis. It depends on what your research question is and how deep you want to go.

I have considered discourse analysis but it's not all that i want to do. i want to look at the text on its own and what not how the reader interacts with the text but something more. i'm not sure how though

What about the Content Analysis? Will it not serve the purpose?