Sexism In English Language And Its Social Connotations

Since the feminism in 1960s, sexism in language has been an important research subject for feminist linguists. By looking at the sexism in language and relating it to the relevant linguistic theories, this thesis attempts to make a study of sexism in language through comparison and statistical computation.To start with, the thesis carefully analyses sexism in English. Semantically, the terms and expressions related to man usually have neutral or appreciative implications while the woman counterparts are depreciative, or even related to sex. Even words that have the same form may have more positive connotations when applied to a man than to a woman. Sexism is also found in the ways of idioms. Many proverbs are used to show contempt for women or demonstrate women's low status. In English slangs, women are compared as food, plants and animals to show women's role of being viewed and tasted. Another asymmetry in the representation of women and men in English is reflected in the naming conventions and addressing practices. Women are named after their husbands' family names after marriage. Men are addressed according to their social status in society whereas women are addressed according to their relationship with the man or men in their lives. In terms of grammar, when used to distinguish gender, non-referential neutral profession nouns turn to compound words by adding woman/female/lady/madam or man/male. Usually, the high status professions are monopolized by men. Another distinguishing feature in grammar is generic he, that is, such masculine pronouns as he, his and him are used generically which make women invisible in language. In fact, sexism is not only encoded in lexical and grammatical materials, in language reference materials and mass media, men and women are defined in the respective sex-biased stereotype.After a documentation of sexism, the thesis traces the reasons for the occurance of sexism in English. In nature, sexism in language reflects sexism in society. The two are closely related. Social connotations of sexism in English tell the relationship between phenomenon of sexism in language and essence of sexism in society. Specifically, the Christian tradition in the West is man-centered and sex-biased. In social reality, women are restrained at home for housework and child-care while men work outside as the breadwinners. So women's status is low and dependent. Surely it is mirrored in language. By socialization, sexism has been accepted as social psychology.A large part of the thesis is contributed to how to change sexism in English. The author of the thesis thinks the key to answer the problem is: (1) neutralize lexes; (2) solve the problem of generic he; (3) striving for balanced naming and addressing system. The eliminating of linguistic sexism lies in social change. Only by changing the social structure, that is, women and men hold really equal status, can language equality be truly achieved.