Overview: Gender Models

Question 1

What is the FOLKLINGUISTICS Model?

Answer 1

This reflects to any statements about language which reflect popular beliefs, past or present but which are not based on research findings.

Question 2

What is the DOMINANCE Model?

Answer 2

O’Barr and Atkin’s research found in aa book called Women’s Language Or a Powerless Language? (1980): is interesting in that it appears to suggest that it is not so much differences in the sexes’ language, but context.

Question 3

What is the DEFICIT Model?

Answer 3

By Robin Lakoff 1975. The model implies that

male language forms are the ‘norm’ and language of women is ‘deficient’ or not as good or power.

Question 4

What is the DIFFERENCE Model?

Answer 4

A main proponent of the theory is sociolinguist Deborah Tannen, whose work, especially her 1990 book You Just Don’t Understand, it argues that men and women speak differently. This is not arguing that men seek domiannce, but that language shows different conversational strategies are used.

Question 5

What is the PERFORMATIVITY Model?

Answer 5

Gender is not (simply) a product of natural biological differences
Gender is not pre–defined, but rather actively constituted
Gender is not an ideology embedded in (and refied by) ‘bodily acts – how we present ourselves, the language we use.
Speakers constrxcut and perform gender identties, either drawign on or challenging perceived stereotypes.