LANGUAGE AND GENDERIN THE CONTEXT OF GENDER

CONSTRUCTIONIN MISS CONGENIALITY (2000)

By:Elizabeth Ratri Dian JatiChrista Yona Twedrian

Ardhian Listyarian

Reasons Why We Conducted This Research

Participation

Improvement

Pleasure

Research Approach, Method

and Data Elicitation

• Qualitative research -> Document analysis

• Data Source: movie transcript obtained from .srt file

Research Problem

What is the relationship between the occupation and language elements used by the feminine male and masculine female characters in the movie?

Literature ReviewEckert (2003): •Sex = biological categorization•Gender = what we do

Sara Mills (1995):•Sex = society/culture and biological (Butler 1990; Fuss 1989)•Gender = same access (Modleski 1991)

Literature Review (cont.)Characteristics of feminine language (women’s language):1.Using tag question (Lakoff 1973, Harris 1984). 2.Being polite (Lakoff 1975)3.Being cooperative (Kalcik 1975; Aries 1976;

Coates 1989, 1991, forthcoming)4.Using perfect grammar (Trudgill 1972)5.Employing indirectness (Trudgill 1972)6.Using emphatic stress (Lakoff 1973)

Literature Review (cont.)

Characteristics of masculine talk (men’s language): Being Competitive (Kalcik 1975; Aries 1976; Coates

1989, 1991) Using expletives (Lakoff 1973) Ignoring perfect grammar (Trudgill 1972) Being to the point (Wood 1966) Not being emphatic (Kramer 1974a, Lakoff 1975, Pei

1969, Reik 1954)

Occupation & Language

Gracie Hart

FBI agent

Masculine

Victor Melling

Beauty consulta

nt

Feminine

Analysis

Data Analysis Your Agent McDonald insists that l depart, or I won't be compensated.

Perfect grammar

Data AnalysisYou in big trouble. Non-standardized grammar

Cont.Data AnalysisI was once the most sought-after, highly paid consultant in pageant history. Every season, girls would plead me to train them. Ten out of 11 years my girls were crowned. The year we lost, the winner was a deaf-mute. You can't beat that. Then in ' 96 my girl froze like a puddle halfway through her aria from La Boheme. Afterwards, she told a reporter from pageant magazine that I was a perfectionist who had harangued her to within an inch of her sanity. Of course, after that article came out nobody wanted me.

Being indirect

Data AnalysisMoe and Larry in the house. Direct (secret

code)

Cont.Data Analysis Both painful and grotesque, isn't it?

Using tag question

Oh, My God. I haven't seen a walk like that since Jurassic park.

Soft profanity

Data Analysis

He's punishing me, isn't he? Tag question

Cont.Data Analysis

Well, glide, now. Glide. Don't look down, don't look down. Don't look down, look up. Your chin should be parallel to the floor. Now glide. Glide. It's not the bloody Ice Capades. No, no. Don't pick your feet up.

Being repetitive

Data Analysis

Mike, give me a pint. Being direct

Cont.Data AnalysisNot anymore. The cocoon is open. I've taken a woman without a smidgen of estrogen and made her a lady. I've never been prouder of myself. Or of any girl I have ever coached. You are truly unique. If I ever had a daughter, I imagine that she would be something like you. Which is why I never reproduced.

Using analogy / being cooperative

Data AnalysisWouldn't I be better on the Citizen case? I have a background in profiling and decoding. I could contribute.

Being competitive

Cont.Data Analysis

• How dare you, you cupcake!

• A sniveling, obsequious weasel of a human being.

• Slang (lexico-grammatical items)

• Using emphatic stress

Data AnalysisFor me, this experience has been one of the most rewarding and liberating experiences of my life.

Using emphatic stress

Data AnalysisI don't appreciate your immaturity when I’m working as hard as I am.

Being polite

Data AnalysisI won't parade around in a swimsuit like some bimbo.

Being rude

Cont.

Lexico-grammatical items

Conclusion

Feminine-talked Male

Feminine Occupatio

nMale

Masculine-talked Female

Masculine Occupatio

nFemale

THANK YOU