Week 1 - Gender and Childhood (Non-essay)

Question 1

Who wrote about the world of boys and girls and when?

Answer 1

Maltz and Borker 1998

Question 2

What were the 3 things that Maltz and Borker claim girls do with words?

Answer 2

1. Create and maintain relationships of closeness and equality
2. Criticise others in acceptable ways
3. Interpret other girls speech accurately

Question 3

What were the 3 things that Maltz and Borker claim boys do with words?

Answer 3

1. Assert their dominance
2. Attract and maintain an audience
3. Assert oneself when other speakers have the floor

Question 4

Who wrote about how children are socialised in terms of their gender and when?

Answer 4

Coates 1993, pp. 165-166

Question 5

How do adults socialise children into their gender roles?

Answer 5

• Comments on linguistic behaviour
• Talking to both sexes differently
• Having different preconceptions of both sexes
• Different responses for the same linguistic behaviour by both sexes

Question 6

Who wrote about adult language and the effect on gender socialisation of children and when?

Answer 6

Eckert and McConnell-Ginet 2003

Question 7

How do adults talk to female children differently to male children?

Answer 7

• More diminutives (Kitty, Doggie)
• More inner state/emotional words (Sad, Happy)
• Fewer prohibitives (no, don’t do that)

Question 8

What are the 4 key points made by Maltz and Borker about boys?

Answer 8

1. Play in larger, hierarchal groups
2. Non-dominant boys made to feel inferior
3. Victimisation
4. Relative status manipulated

Question 9

How do boys assert dominance?

Answer 9

• Verbal commands
• Name calling
• Threats
• Refusal to obey orders
• Winning a verbal argument

Question 10

How do boys attract and maintain audiences?

Answer 10

• Story telling
• Jokes
• Ride out challenges throughout their story telling

Question 11

How do boys assert themselves when other speakers have the floor?

Answer 11

• Performing side comments and challenges

Question 12

Who spoke about boys and relative status negotiation and when?

Answer 12

Goodwin 1998

Question 13

What were Goodwin’s points about boys behaviour?

Answer 13

• They use directives and explicit commands
• Leaders and followers are established through status negation
• They instruct others

Question 14

What are the 4 key points made by Maltz and Borker about girls?

Answer 14

• Play in small groups
• Homogenous/same age group
• Private or semi-private play, must be invited
• Play is co-operative

Question 15

What did Maltz and Borker say was ‘essential’ for girls?

Answer 15

• Best friend

- Closeness

Question 16

What did Goodwin say about girls’ groups and when?

Answer 16

• Non-hierarchal
• Fertile ground for alliance formations against others
• 1980

Question 17

How do girls create and maintain close relationships according to Maltz and Borker/Goodwin?

Answer 17

• Inclusive forms

- Exchange of personal thoughts and secrets

Question 18

How do girls criticise others acceptably according to Maltz and Borker?

Answer 18

• Without over aggression

- Avoiding being mean or bossy

Question 19

How do girls co-operate in play to Maltz and Borker/Goodwin?

Answer 19

• Minimal disagreement
• Negotiation
• Joint participation in decisions

Question 20

How do girls avoid conflict according to Maltz and Borker?

Answer 20

• Disguising directives as suggestions eg. let’s

- Agree to suggestions

Question 21

According to Maltz and Borker, what do girls NOT do?

Answer 21

• Argue to gain power

Question 22

What examples did Maltz and Borker give of girls showing characteristics of boys in roleplay?

Answer 22

• Role of the leader emerging eg. mother/teacher

- Excluding girls from valued positions and alliances against individuals

Question 23

Who wrote about boys and girls playing and when?

Answer 23

Sheldon 1990