language and gender

Question 1

Zimmerman and West (dominance)

Answer 1

found 96% of interruptions were made by men, suggesting male dominance in conversation.

criticism: very small study sample
Beattie (1982)- questions could reflect interest and Beattie carried out the same study with a larger sample and found that the interruptions were equal

Question 2

Pamela Fishman (1980) (Dominance)

Answer 2

• conversation between the sexes fail not because of how women talk, but because of how men respond (or don’t respond)
• women ask questions because of the power of them in interactions, not because of their personality weaknesses.
• mixed sex interactions, men speak on average for twice as long as women

Question 3

Dale Spender (Dominance)

Answer 3

women’s silence is a form of oppression
spender saw language as asserting male dominance in the generic use

support: Fishman (1990’s) found that women use more attention getting phrases such as “you know what”, and can give minimal support based on their interest

Question 4

Deborah Tannen (1990) (difference)

Answer 4

men- confidence and confrontation
girls- co-operation and personal feelings

Question 5

Judith Butler (1990) (performance approach)

Answer 5

Gender is something we do rather than what we are
- words have the power to replicate a gender such as clothing

Question 6

Fisherman (1980)

Answer 6

conversational shitwork’ - women put more work into carrying on and speaking in a conversation due to their inferior position in society

Question 7

Jesperson (1992) (Deficit)

Answer 7

women have a language deficiency due to it being innate
- they talk alot
- tend to use hyperboles
- have a smaller vocabulary
- use empty base adjectives

criticism: folk linguist: patriarchal society, didn’t conduct any studies, largely based on fiction

Question 8

Lakoff (1975) (Deficit)

Answer 8

Women’s language as inferior to male language as women are inferior in society.
1. Hedging 2. Politeness 3. Tag questions 4. Emotional emphasis 5. Empty adjectives 6. Correct grammar and pronunciation 7. Lack of humour 8. Direct quotations 9. Extended vocabulary 10. Declarations with interrogative intonation

criticism: O’barr and Atkins (1980)- deficiency is more to do with power than gender

Janet Holmes (1992)- there are several types of tag questions that aren’t inferior
- take out the rubbish, won’t you?
- we love that show, don’t we?

Question 9

Coates (2005) (difference)

Answer 9

male talk and interaction with other males
impersonal topics
they hold the floor
lack of overlapping

Question 10

Locke (2011) (difference)

Answer 10

The difference between men and women’s language is biological and that is why women are more co-operative and caring due to their maternal instincts

criticism:
Susan Githins (1991)- if we acknowledge this it is hurting men and women
Pennebaker (2007)- difference are not with genders but with the stigma attached

Question 11

Hyde (2005) (Dynamic)

Answer 11

Gender Similarities Hypothesis, while there are differences between men and women these differences were less relevant than other aspects of identity such as sexuality, age, class, ethnicity

Question 12

Cameron (2008) (Dynamic)

Answer 12

difference is just a myth to have something to say for job discrimination and presents men as bullies

• supports Hyde that we should look at the similarities