Female Language Used in a Male-Dominated Workplace in Malaysia

Abstract

In the modern society today, women are now more progressive and hold a significant role in society due to their contributions. However, several studies have indicated that women are still being looked down upon in the workplace setting due to gender biasness. The paper analyses whether the patriarchal system prevalent in Malaysia had an impact on the language used by females. A semi-structured interview is conducted between fifteen female participants who have worked in a male-dominated industry for at least two years in Malaysia. The analysis is derived from two theoretical frameworks; Kendall and Tannen’s Genderlect Theory and Cameron’s Patriarchy and Sexism in a Language through thematic analysis. Findings revealed that most participants used rapport-talk when conversing with their female colleagues; however, they would turn to report-talk when conversing with their male colleagues to be taken seriously. Moreover, the findings also revealed that the participants share common themes, which are patriarchy, profession, position, and situations when conversing. This has shown that gendered language is still prevalent in the Malaysian workplace due to patriarchal influence which needs to be addressed.