Polarized Semantic Change of Words Associated with Females and Males

Ng, Sik Hung; Chan, Kam Kuen; Weatherall, Ann; Moody, Joanna

doi:10.1177/0261927x93121005

Cited by 23 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In another unobtrusive study, participants were asked to learn nonsense words that were consistently associated with pictures of women or men (Ng et al, 1993). Results showed that the words acquired connotations aligned with the gender stereotype evoked by the related picture.…”

Section: Effects Of Language On Women's Motivation Self-esteem Performance and Persuasivenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visible or influential? Language reforms and gender (in)equality

Mucchi‐Faina

2005

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English There is much controversy regarding the use and the effects of politically correct (PC) language and language reforms. This article is focussed on gender-related PC language, that is, non-sexist language. After a short account of the debate on the issue, it is shown that, with regard to gender, language reforms can be based on two main strategies: inclusion and visibility. The preference for one or the other strategy depends not only on the characteristics of the specific language but also on the aim considered as a priority in the context. After an overview of language changes introduced in different (mainly European) countries, studies on the effects of sexist language and language reforms are reviewed. Finally the practical implications of the scientific findings on the issue are discussed. French L'emploi et les effets du langage politiquement correct (PC), ainsi que les réformes de la langue, sont actuellement très controversés. Cet article se concentre sur le langage PC à l'égard du genre, à savoir le langage non-sexiste. Après un bref résumé du débat, l'auteure montre que, par rapport au genre, les réformes de la langue peuvent être fondées sur deux stratégies principales: l'inclusion et la visibilité. La préférence pour l'une ou l'autre de ces stratégies ne dépend pas seulement des particularités de la langue en question, mais aussi du but qui est considéré prioritaire dans un contexte donné. Après un compte rendu des changements de la langue introduits dans différents pays (surtout en Europe), une revue des études sur les effets du langage sexiste et des réformes de la langue est présentée. Enfin, les implications pratiques des résultats scientifiques sur le thème sont discutées.

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Section: Effects Of Language On Women's Motivation Self-esteem Performance and Persuasivenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visible or influential? Language reforms and gender (in)equality

Mucchi‐Faina

2005

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“…At the establishment of gender and language as a legitimate field of inquiry, work documented the ways language can be understood as ignoring or narrowly defining and demeaning women. Cognitive social psychology has confirmed various psychological implications of sexism in language (Douglas & Sutton, 2014; Ng, Kam Kuen, Weatherall, & Moody, 1993). Social constructionist–informed discourse analysis details how gendered subjectivities and moral orders are produced and resisted (Baxter, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Sexism in Language and Talk-in-Interaction

Weatherall

2015

Journal of Language and Social Psychology

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Feminists have long recognised important relationships between language and a gendered social order that disadvantages women. At the establishment of gender and language as a field of academic inquiry, work documented sexism in language—the ways words were used to ignore, narrowly define, or demean women. Using feminist conversation analysis, this article further develops that early work by considering recorded instances of gender and sexism in talk. A broad notion of “gender trouble” was used to identify 50 relevant cases from everyday interactions. Two sexist language issues that were evident in the collection are presented in this article—the derogation of women and participants’ orientations to gender inclusiveness. The analysis contributes to a better understanding of sexism in language by examining how instances of it unfold over turns of talk. The study is discussed with respect to the methodological tensions inherent in feminist conversation analysis.

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“…One of the few opportunities in that area arose in an advanced social psychology class – a group‐project option on ‘sexist language’. Reading on that topic led to my fourth year dissertation – an experimental study on gender biases in word meanings (see Ng, Kam Kuen, Weatherall, & Moody, 1993) and inspired me to further study at postgraduate level.…”

Section: Engaging Feminismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discursive psychology and feminism

Weatherall

2011

British J Social Psychol

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This appraisal highlights the productive engagement between feminism and discursive psychology (DP). It discusses some of the confluence and tensions between DP and feminism. The two share critical perspectives on science and psychology, a concern with prejudice, and have ideas in common about the constructed nature of social categories, such as gender. One difficulty arises from the relativism associated with the post-structural theoretical underpinnings of DP, which can be understood as politically paralyzing. Another problem comes from an endorsement of a conversation analytic mentality, where identity categories such as gender can only be legitimately used in an analysis when participants' orient to their relevance. The high-profile debates and literature in DP shows it has made a notable contribution to social psychology and its influence can also be found in other areas. A particular influence of DP highlighted in the present appraisal is on gender and language research.

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Polarized Semantic Change of Words Associated with Females and Males

Cited by 23 publications

References 17 publications

Visible or influential? Language reforms and gender (in)equality

Visible or influential? Language reforms and gender (in)equality

Sexism in Language and Talk-in-Interaction

Discursive psychology and feminism

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