PAUL BAKER

Will Ms ever be as frequent as Mr? A corpus-based comparison of gendered terms across four diachronic corpora of British

English

1931 1961 1991 2006

The British Brown Family

All approximately 1 million words of written, published British English from 15 genres.

BLOB (before LOB) 1931 British EnglishLOB 1961 British EnglishFLOB 1991 British EnglishBE06 2006 British English

All corpora mounted on CQPweb

CQPweb – “girl”

Research Questions

Has written British English become less sexist since the 1930s?

Have proportions of gender-equivalent terms changed?

Have there been any qualitative changes in gender representation?

To what extent have strategies designed to make language non-sexist being taken up?

Caution

Each corpus is a million words in size. Despite random sampling, the size may produce strange results.

The corpora are only from four sampling points – any analysis can tell us nothing about years not sampled.

Differences are therefore suggestive of change – they don’t ‘prove’ change.

Common-sense and relating results to social events will help to prevent over- or under-interpretation.

All pronouns

02000400060008000

100001200014000160001800020000

1930 1945 1960 1975 1990 2005

male pronouns

female pronouns

Gender inclusive pronouns

BLOB

1931

LOB

1961

FLOB

1991

BE06

2006him or her 0 4 5 3he or she 4 5 14 7he/she 0 0 2 3s/he 0 0 8 1him/her 0 0 3 0totals 4 9 32 14

MAN and WOMAN

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1930 1945 1960 1975 1990 2005

manmenwomanwomen

Spokes-

BLOB

1931

LOB

1961

FLOB

1991

BE06

2006

spokesman 1 22 50 43

spokeswoman 0 0 8 5

spokesperson 0 0 2 4

Police-

BLOB

1931

LOB

1961

FLOB

1991

BE06

2006policeman 30 15 39 30policewoman 0 3 0 3WPC (woman police constable)

0 0 3 0

PC (police constable)

0 1 7 2

police constable 0 2 2 2police officer 2 5 11 34cop/copper 0 6 10 37

Gendered roles

spokesman, policeman ,businessman ,salesman ,clergyman ,statesman ,congressman, barman, craftsman, fisherman, sportsman, watchman, postman, ombudsman, seaman, workman ,foreman, chairman, doorman, handyman, countryman, rifleman, coachman, gunman, showman ,draughtsman, fireman, manservant, journeyman, highwayman, airman, cameraman, milkman, footman, lineman, guardsman, cattleman, serviceman, yachtsman, tradesman, batman, midshipman, helmsman, boatman, signalman, churchman, swordsman, houseman, infantryman, huntsman, hitman, horseman, stuntman, ploughman, henchman, cowman, oarsman, anchorman, roadman, headsman, dalesman, nurseryman, toll-man, townsman, leadsman, counterman, engineman, militiaman, headman, dustman, herdsman, pressman, liveryman, plantsman, harp-man, merchantman, trawlerman, ticket-man, landsman, benchman, groundman, shopman, baggage-man, bagman, ambulanceman, seedsman, dairyman, netsman, coalman, ferryman

landlady, charlady, spokeswoman, charwoman, saleswoman, policewoman, manageress, businesswoman, needlewoman, horse-woman, vice chairwoman, woman-mercenary, flower-woman, country-woman, actress, stewardess, mayoress, headmistress, seamstress, authoress, shepherdess, manageress, murderess, patroness, deaconess, prophetess, embroideress, schoolmistress, priestess, housemistress, poetess, millionairess, proprietess, princess ,mistress, hostess, Duchess ,waitress ,governess, empress ,baroness ,marquess ,countess , empress

Gender-specific roles (waitress, lady doctor, fireman etc)

Gender-specific adjectives – changes over time

1931 man – dilapidated, ferret-like, plain, suet-pudding-faced, thick-set, dirty, shabby, spectacled

2006 man - hunky, handsome, dapper, Gap-clad, fashion-conscious

1931 woman – obedient, docile, quiet, mad, possessive, vain, talkative

2006 woman – grumpy, assertive, determined, fun-loving, formidable

Unique adjectives – stable patterns

MAN1931 – celebrated, distinguished, noted, rich,

successful, wealthy, urbane1961 – wealthy, grand, famous, top1991 – influential, famous, self-made, richest,

cultivated2006 – great, wealthy, sophisticated, dignified

These words are very rare with WOMAN.

woman as (continually) desirable

1931 – beautiful, broad-bosomed, pretty, good-looking, fine

1961 – desirable, lovely, prettiest, fresh-complexioned, handsomest, magnificant-looking,

1991 –beautiful, sensuous, attractive, luscious, sexiest, voluptuous

2006 – handsome, sultry, pretty, beautiful, lovely, delightful

MAN

Man continually represented as physically strong and active: able, hale, fastest, healthy, energetic, powerful, strong, mighty, tough, virile

“Family man” occurs in all 4 corpora – but never “family woman” (assumption that all woman are ‘family women’?)

References to generic man continue : Neolithic man, primal man, primitive man, industrial man, prehistoric man etc. “The Celts were the second wave of invaders to follow Neolithic man to Britain” (BE06)

Titles

020040060080010001200140016001800

1930 1945 1960 1975 1990 2005

mrmrsmissms

Summary

Male bias still in existence but shrinking.Hypothesis 1– people more likely to stop using an

old word (Mr)Hypothesis 2 – new terms will be met with

resistance unless they are familiar (Ms, -person, police officer)

Hypothesis 3 – forms that are easier to say are likely to be more successful (cop vs. him/her).

Summary

Stereotypes of submissive, gossipy women seem to be declining

Men are now sexually objectified (almost) as much as women.

Continuing usage of generic man in history/archeology.

Continuing absence of powerful/influential/physically strong/active women