Linguistic Sexism and Feminist Linguistic Activism

Pauwels, Anne

doi:10.1002/9780470756942.ch24

Cited by 116 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…This topic may have reinforced the effect of feminine forms in the description. Language reform in the direction of gender-fairness was indeed a political act and originated from the feminist movement (Pauwels, 2003). Thus, novel feminine forms used in a gender context may be perceived as signaling feminism.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capturing socially motivated linguistic change: how the use of gender-fair language affects support for social initiatives in Austria and Poland

et al. 2015

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Gender-fair language consists of the symmetric linguistic treatment of women and men instead of using masculine forms as generics. In this study, we examine how the use of gender-fair language affects readers' support for social initiatives in Poland and Austria. While gender-fair language is relatively novel in Poland, it is well established in Austria. This difference may lead to different perceptions of gender-fair usage in these speech communities. Two studies conducted in Poland investigate whether the evaluation of social initiatives (Study 1: quotas for women on election lists; Study 2: support for women students or students from countries troubled by war) is affected by how female proponents (lawyers, psychologists, sociologists, and academics) are referred to, with masculine forms (traditional) or with feminine forms (modern, gender-fair). Study 3 replicates Study 2 in Austria. Our results indicate that in Poland, gender-fair language has negative connotations and therefore, detrimental effects particularly when used in gender-related contexts. Conversely, in Austria, where gender-fair language has been implemented and used for some time, there are no such negative effects. This pattern of results may inform the discussion about formal policies regulating the use of gender-fair language.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capturing socially motivated linguistic change: how the use of gender-fair language affects support for social initiatives in Austria and Poland

et al. 2015

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“…Atkins-Sayre (2005), however, traces out the history of the successful introduction of the title Ms and reports that Ms has begun to shed its negative connotations. Holmes (2001) and Pauwels (2001bPauwels ( , 2003 find evidence of an increasing use of Ms among women, especially those who are younger and educated to tertiary level, in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA.…”

Section: Titlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Voices in Hong Kong English Textbooks—Some Past and Current Practices

2008

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This paper seeks to investigate whether recent improvements in the status of women in Hong Kong are reflected in patterns of gender representation in Hong Kong secondary English textbooks. A comparison of ten recently published books which are currently in use with ten published in the late 1980s/early 1990s and no longer in use revealed that women appeared more frequently in the former, and that greater use was made of gender-inclusive pronouns and the neutral address title Ms. Nevertheless some writers, it was found, continue to perpetuate the stereotyped image of women as weaker than men, and as operating primarily within domestic rather than social domains. The "male-first" phenomenon and the visual under-representation of women are still prevalent in recent textbooks.

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“…Looked at another way, this is an argument for recognition of the fact that polysemy exists and that one sense can become more dominant than another because of the influence of powerful ideological interests. It is precisely this that allows, for example, feminist language reform without threatening the fundamental values of linguistics (Pauwels, 2003;Mills, 2008). We can make a general observation here.…”

Section: Clear and Present Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

Human rights: Law, language and the bare human being

Mooney

2012

Language & Communication

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Linguistic Sexism and Feminist Linguistic Activism

Cited by 116 publications

References 19 publications

Capturing socially motivated linguistic change: how the use of gender-fair language affects support for social initiatives in Austria and Poland

Capturing socially motivated linguistic change: how the use of gender-fair language affects support for social initiatives in Austria and Poland

Gender Voices in Hong Kong English Textbooks—Some Past and Current Practices

Human rights: Law, language and the bare human being

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