Gender Representation Flashcards
What are gendered terms?
Terms that prefix names and represent titles or positions
Examples include Dr, Reverend, Mr, Mrs, Lady, Lord, Sir, Madam
What are gender-neutral pronouns?
Pronouns that do not specify gender, often using plural forms like ‘they, them, theirs’
Also includes neopronouns like xe/xem or ze/zim
What is the Sapir- Whorf hypothesis?
Linguistic determinism, The theory that the particular language one speaks influences the way one thinks about reality
How do languages with two words for blue affect color identification?
They can identify colors quicker
What is male generic language?
Language intended to be general but reflects ideas of males as most important
Examples include terms like mankind and manmade
What does lexical asymmetry refer to?
The imbalance of two words that seem to match but have different connotations
Examples include wizard/ witch and master/mistress
What is androcentrism?
A male-centered worldview prevalent due to patriarchy, limiting female representation
What is the impact of patriarchy on gender representation?
It holds power in society and excludes women from representation
Often summarized as ‘the rule of the Father’
What are female suffixes?
Suffixes added to words to identify them as female, often making them sound weaker
Common suffixes include ‘-ess’ and ‘-ette’ Eg: Waitress
What distinguishes marked and unmarked terms?
Unmarked terms do not specify gender, while marked terms identify a gender
Examples: actor (unmarked) vs. actress (marked), god (unmarked) vs. goddess (marked)
What is the significance of using the term ‘man-made’?
It reflects male-centric language and reinforces gender stereotypes
Fill in the blank: The theory that language influences thought is known as _______.
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (linguistic determinism)
What does the term ‘gender stereotypes’ refer to?
Preconceived notions about the roles and behaviors appropriate for men and women
What is the implication of overrepresentation of males in language?
It can lead to a perception that male experiences and perspectives are more valuable
What are promiscuous terms in the context of language?
Terms that have negative or sexual connotations when referring to females
Who is the author of ‘man made language’ and when was it published?
Dale Spender, Published in 1980
What does Dale Spender argue about language in society?
Our language used is biased against women
What is the significance of ‘acceptable and commonplace words’ in Spender’s argument?
They reflect experiences that express male domination
What examples does Spender provide to illustrate male domination in language?
Policeman, fireman, mankind
What happens to surnames after marriage that supports Spender’s arguements
They often change, typically to the husband’s surname
What did linguist Julia Stanley find in her 1977 study regarding promiscuous terms for females?
220 terms for females and only 20 for males
Fill in the blank: According to Dale Spender, language often shows _______ domination.
male
Fill in the blank: Stanley identified 220 terms for females and only _____ for males.
20
