Gender Theory

Question 1

Jesperson

Answer 1

Talking like women is “vague and insipid”

Question 2

Montgomery

Answer 2

English language is systematically skewed. Women are “second class citizens”

Question 3

Lackoff

Answer 3

Women use Tag questions, hedging, empty adjectives.
Deficit model
Inherently weak in language and insignificant

Question 4

De’Beauvoir

Answer 4

“One is not simply born a woman but rather becomes one” - socialisation

Question 5

Fishman

Answer 5

Women do the “conversational shitwork” - women tend to work more

Question 6

Geoffrey Beattie

Answer 6

96 hours of mixed sex convo - found not much difference & ratio of overlaps

Question 7

Zimmerman and West

Answer 7

96% interruptions from men and break politeness principles - from 31 segments, 11 convos between men (white middle class) & women = men 46 interruptions & women only used 2

Question 8

O’Barr and Atkins

Answer 8

Courtroom convo - observers paradox - depends on context and both genders use features associated with powerless language

Question 9

Dale Spender

Answer 9

Male language is “normal” and “better” as we live in a patriarchal society
- inherently built on patriarchy

Question 10

Kuiper

Answer 10

Rugby team - men less likely to save face and show emotion
- taboo lang
In context has merit but overall not really

Question 11

Mary Talbot

Answer 11

All products are gendered

- synthetic sisterhood > patronising women need to be saved, not strong on own> written form of phatic talk

Question 12

Deborah Jones

Answer 12

House talk, scandal, bitching, chatting

- generalises and stereotypes women - makes everything about the home

Question 13

Pilkington

Answer 13

Women more polite than men

Aim for positive politeness strategies but men are less complimentary & supportive in all male talk

Question 14

Politeness principles

Answer 14

1. Don’t impose
2. Give options
3. Make receiver feel good