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English as a Sexist Language: Impact of English on the Caribbean Communities

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English as a Sexist Language: Impact of English on the Caribbean Communities
Date: 10th April, 2013

Course: LING 2302 Introduction to Linguistics

Assignment:

Feminists have claimed that English is a sexist language. Discuss whether you agree with this position or whether you think it is the users of the language that are sexist. (Justify your position).
Discuss the type of changes needed to resolve this issue in today’s society and how effective these changes will be, given the role of men and women in Caribbean Communities?
What impact, if any, will this have on the teaching of English in your community? (Use reference to specific studies to support your discussion)

ABSTRACT:

“Sexist language” is language that expresses bias in favour of one sex and thus treats the other sex in a discriminatory manner. In most cases, the bias is in favour of men and against women.
This paper firstly discusses Feminists claims that English is a sexist language. Then it emphasizes the type of changes needed to resolve this issue in today’s society and how effective these changes will be, given the role of men and women in Caribbean Communities and the impacts this has on the teaching of English in my community.
In order to illustrate the three issues clearly, examples are given from Linguistic researches are given.

INTRODUCTION:

Sexist language is language that shows bias in favour of one sex and thus treats the other sex in a discriminatory manner. In most cases the bias is in favour of men and against women. Sexist language is in existence is due to sexism in society. Language is closely linked to social attitudes. In the past, women were seen as the passive and dependable sex they were expected to stay at home, powerless and subordinate to her husband. Men were the head of the household and society. For centuries women have been looked on as “the weaker sex” in society. Language simply reflects this social fact. However, because of their greater status-consciousness, the movement amongst feminists to reduce sexual


References: Cameron, D. (1998). The Feminist Critique of Language, London: Routledge. Finegan, E., Besnier, N. (1989), Language: Its Structure and Use, Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Pauwels, Anne (1998), Women Changing Language, New York: Addison Wesley Longman. Thorne, B., Kramarae, C., Henley, N. (1983). Language Gender and Society, Henle and Henle Publishers Wardaugh, R. (1992), An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
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