Gender bias in language

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

What is gender bias?

1. Consciously favouring men above women
2. Subconsciously favouring men above women
3. Unfair difference in the way men and women are treated
4. Stating that everyone is equal despite gender

What is Gender-Biased Language?·      If language is gender biased, it favors a certain gender over another.·    

  In the case of English, the particular bias is usually the preference of the masculine over the feminine.·     

 At first glance, it would appear that gender bias is built into the English language.

 Rules of grammar once dictated that we use masculine pronouns (he, his, him, himself) whenever a singular referent is required and we don’t know the gender of the person we’re talking about·     

 Though this practice has been changing there are still some words that we use regularly that include the feminine.

We work out our assumptions that surgeons must be men. So why do people make these assumptions about gender and occupation? Does it mean they are sexist? Sexism is prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination most often against women on the basis of gender. 

THE TERM "MARKED" IS a staple of linguistic theory. It refers to the way language alters the base meaning of a word by adding a linguistic particle that has no meaning on its own. The unmarked form of a word carries the meaning that goes without saying -- what you think of when you're not thinking anything special.

The unmarked forms of most English words also convey "male." Being male is the unmarked case. Endings like ess and ette mark words as "female." Unfortunately, they also tend to mark them for frivolousness. Would you feel safe entrusting your life to a doctorette? Alfre Woodard, who was an Oscar nominee for best supporting actress, says she identifies herself as an actor because "actresses worry about eyelashes and cellulite, and women who are actors worry about the characters we are playing." Gender markers pick up extra meanings that reflect common associations with the female gender: not quite serious, often sexual.

Is language in herently sexist? Why do these  phrases sound strange? 

Replace them with the opposite gender. 

For example - we talk about working moms but we don't say working fathers. Or we say to throw like a girl but would we be better saying to not throw forcefully. We also say she wears the pants in the family meaning the woman is in charge of a relationship. Women have a catfight. Do men have a dog fight. 

Listening to a podcast the other day. It was about how the bias is still present. Standard sentences are still male oriented. 

• Dan verklaar ik u tot man en vrouw You don't say verklaar ik u vrouw and man. It gives too much emphasis on the idea that you are trying to be woke. And sounds silly.
• Geachte heer / mevrouw
• Wil ieder zijn of haar jas even meenemen van de stoel
• Alle jongens en meisjes verzamelen graag!  Teachers say - Jongens kom naar binnen to get the whole class inside. We never say meiden kom naar binnen. Sounds silly

The teacher says - okay Jongens and Meisjes get out your books. But why don't we say Meiden? Wij do we have to belittle the word?

In the circus they do say - Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. May I have your attention..... This is called by the way a Chiasmus - reversing of words or word phrases. Used often in advertising or speeching. 

Stewardess

Mailman

Chairman

Spokesman

Anchorman

Mankind

Manpower

Husband or Wife

Mothering

Policeman 

Foreman

Salesmanship

Housewife

Penmanship

Sportsmen

Sportsmanship

Flight Attendant

Postal Work/Mail Carrier

Chair (person)

Spokesperson

Anchor

Humanity / People

Workforce/Personnel

Spouse

Parenting

(Police) Officer

Supervisor

Selling Ability

Homemaker

Handwriting

Athletes

Fairplay

What are the Gender Neutral Terms?

Have students call out in Teams. Make sure they can not open the hotspots themselves

Does it matter? Does our language create our world, or does the world create our language? Is it possible for a reality to exist without a word to describe it?

Monique Wittig believed this to be the case when she wrote, "Language casts sheaves of reality upon the social body, stamping it and violently shaping it." Do you agree?

Homework for tomorrow

Go the the following Website and read the advert. 

SHHH! Moms on the warpath.

Answer the questions attached to this lesson in a word document

https:

Discuss with a friend. Add your ideas to your portfolio

1. Whom does this advert target? How do you know?

2. How does it use language to appeal to its audience?

3. What are the connotations of the words 'Warpath'  and 'Mother'?

4. What is the message of the add? Try articulating the reasoning on which the ad is based.

5. How does this advert use the conventions of a comic strip to communicate its message?

6. To what extent does this ad construct a stereotype?

7. Do you find this text offensive? Give reasons.

8. Could ads like this be found today? Why or why not? 

Be ready for Wednesdays lesson.