Language BiasLanguage BiasGender and language

Language BiasLanguage BiasAre men and women equal?How are sex and gender different?Examples of language bias

Symmetry and asymmetry Unmarked and marked Some words are not equal

1. Are men and women 1. Are men and women equal?equal?On average, in developed countries,

women make 23% less money than men. In developing countries, they make 27% less.

Women work two-thirds of the world working hours, produce half of the world’s food and yet earn only 10% of the world’s income and own less than 1% of the world’s property.

2. Are men and women 2. Are men and women equal?equal?Almost a quarter of the global

population lives in extreme poverty – on less than ¥100 per day. 70% of these people are women.

Gender violence causes more deaths and disability among women aged 15 to 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or war.

3. Are men and women 3. Are men and women equal?equal?In Switzerland, Japan and Belgium,

for every 100 men enrolled in higher education there are respectively just 53, 63 and 78 women.

Women hold only 1% of executive positions in the world’s biggest international corporations. Women hold only 6.2% of all ministerial positions worldwide.

““Women are not born they Women are not born they are made.” are made.”

Simone de BeauvoirSimone de Beauvoir

Sex and GenderSex and Gender

Sex is something we are born with.

Sex is biologically determined.◦ It is announced by

the doctor: “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl!”

Gender is socially constructed.

It is not something we are born with.

It is something we do, something we perform and is created by society.

Both men and women are Both men and women are made.made.Gendering begins when the doctor

announces, “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl!”

Male and female children are interpreted differently and interacted with differently.

Boys and girls are treated differently and so they learn to be different.

Where it all begins!Where it all begins!

The ways in which language The ways in which language is biased reinforces the is biased reinforces the

making of men and womenmaking of men and women

Symmetry and Symmetry and AsymmetryAsymmetryGeneric: horseFemale: mareMale: stallion

Young: foal (either sex)

Young female: fillyYoung male: colt

Generic: manFemale: womanMale: man

Young: childYoung female: girlYoung male: boy

1. Unmarked and Marked1. Unmarked and MarkedLionWaiterActorDoctorProfessorSurgeonNurse

LionessWaitressActressLady doctorWoman professorWoman surgeonMale nurse

2. Unmarked and Marked2. Unmarked and MarkedFamily man

Men by definition have careers.

Single/unmarried mothers

Women are by definition “family women.”

Career woman

We do not talk about single/unmarried fathers.

Semantic derogationSemantic derogation(Words with demeaning connotations)(Words with demeaning connotations)Master: “He’s my

boss.”

Bachelor: Suggests a fun loving guy who has succeeded in not getting tied down.

Mistress: “She’s my lover.”

Spinster: Suggests an old, grey, ugly woman who has been unable to get a man

Negative collocations

Woman Girl Man Boy

Blonde 25 28 1 1

Frigid 2 0 0 0

Honest 11 2 68 1

Hysterical 14 1 0 0

Intelligent 17 9 44 3

Loose 3 2 1 1

Neurotic 2 2 2 0

Silly 16 35 0 10

Ugly 6 4 0 0

Same words, but not equal.Same words, but not equal.He’s easy. He’s a

man who’s friendly and easy to talk to.

Calling a man a professional is a compliment

Calling a man aggressive is also a compliment.

She’s easy. She has a lot of sexual partners.

Calling a woman a professional could mean she is a prostitute.

Calling a woman aggressive also can have a sexual meaning or mean she’s pushy.

Addresses and NamesAddresses and NamesMr. : Men keep

their names after marriage and pass them on to their children.

Men are more likely to be addressed by a title and their last names.

Miss, Mrs. or Ms.: Women usually take their husband’s name and lose their maiden names.

Women are more likely to be addressed by their first names.

ConclusionsConclusions

Language is not neutral and affects attitudes towards and status of men and women Many language forms preserve and

reinforce attitudes that males are the norm. Many language forms lessen women’s

position or role in society. Words have positive or neutral meanings

when used to talk about men, but negative meanings when used to talk about women.