General Theories

Question 1

Schulz

Answer 1

Semantic derogation happens to language associated with women

(Words associated with women become derogatory)

E.g. bitch, pussy etc…

Question 2

Bodine

Answer 2

English is an andocentric lang and tends to have bias that favours males

E.g. ‘Mankind’ used generically to represent both genders

Generic use of ‘man’ implies women occupy negative semantic space

Question 3

Leech

Answer 3

Trivialising suffixes suggest female roles are deviant from the standard term for men

E.g. ‘Actress’ and ‘Actor’
E.g. ‘Heroine’ and ‘Hero’