Language and gender

Topic

Language and gender

Instructions

Discuss the essay question:

Some people believe that there is nothing wrong with using sexist language in relation to either gender. In this course, we argue that sexist language used against either gender can be harmful or hurtful as it is often connected to power and status. Explain the connection between power/status and sexist language.

Answer preview

Language is an inherent human structure of conventionalized codes that have understood connotations.  It is through language that human being communicate and express their private feelings and thoughts, as well as enact numerous human functions. Nonetheless, language is the most powerful form through which gender discrimination and sexism are produced and perpetrated.  In the sense that, the content of sexual category stereotypes, where women should display warmth or communal traits while men ought to display competence or agentic traits are mirrored in the lexical selections of daily communication (Smith, 2019).

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