The English language gives meaning to things in our society. People use language to express their feelings and to justify meanings of things in society. Language is biased by males. A single word can have two different definitions in a society. Spender uses an example of society viewing a female doctor as less than a male doctor. Also, Spender believes the stereotyping of females is demeaning to them. One example used is that females do most of the talking, gossiping, and the males are the quiet ones. In fact, the males are more likely to talk and the females listen.
Spender believes there has been some change in the language system
to limit some of the bias. Words such as policeperson and mailperson
are now used to reduce bias. One problem is, though the word
has changed, the way society views things has not. For example,
female jobs are viewed as demeaning if a male were to hold that
same position. A house wife is an excellent example where a male
doing the same work would be looked down upon in society. Spender
believes everything is determined by the way society views it.
Women are not supposed to use profane language, because society's
says so. Most of the social and linguistic mores were made when
the world was patriarchal. All the research Spender looks at
has some type of stereotyping about women. Many of these topics
have shown that women are degraded even today when it comes to
using language in some form. Spender believes there needs
to be more equal words gender wise in society to relieve the burden
that is put upon females. Language is a powerful tool and women
are at a disadvantage.
Spender reviews many studies done on the equality of the English language. Spender explains in great detail the trivial evidence found in many of the early researches. Spender uses many different peoples researches to get the same results. Testing the reliability of the early studies done by comparing and contrasting them was an excellent means of showing credibility. The use of many famous authors did not intimidate her. Spender shows the exact evidence that makes the other authors studies not valid or reliable. Spender also explains in great detail why the studies were inaccurate.
The studies are all one-sided towards the females perspective. There is never a two sided argument about the males problems with our language. Also, the arguments never show the males view point. The studies involve a lot of controversial topics. And all the controversial topic studies are done by feminists. Many of the information could be left out. Maybe it is intentional, by giving the evidence that answers what there hypothesis questions there study is deemed a success and they can allocate more money to do follow up studies. Some of the bias may be unintentional where they are looking for certain things and miss other things. For example, they may not control the extraneous variables accurately enough. The article raises questions about double standards in language and it contains double standards itself. The discussion is lopsided towards females.
Many interesting topics of discussion were brought up that a novel could be written about. The stereotype that women are the gossip genders is one example. I believe women and men are equal when it comes to gossiping. I believe the setting is a major determinate of whom is going to speak the most. Someone who feels comfortable will talk the most.
There are words that are made for men that females do not have a comparable one. For example, a single male is called a bachelor what is a female? There are more profane words to describe women as Spender pointed out. Are these words made by males to call the females. I know the word "bitch" was used as an example but if a person goes by a dictionary definition it will be used to explain a dog. Were all the other words made up to demean the female gender?
The changing of words is not going to change society's way at looking at things. The professional female is changing the way society looks at things. The patriarchal society has decreased in recent years. The changing of society needs to start at the home. The family needs to instill equality to their children. That generation is going to be the most important in changing the mores for future females.
More research needs to be done were there is no bias. The studies
need to have objective research. There is a priority to find
out if women are being discriminated by language if they are what
changes are needed to relieve the inequalities.
© Dan Hayes, Winona (MN) State University, 30 January 1997. This document may be freely distributed for educational use as long as this notice of its authorship accompanies its distribution.
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