To get you thinking….To get you thinking….

As you take your seats, complete the ‘If a As you take your seats, complete the ‘If a man / woman were a ….’ man / woman were a ….’

Work by yourself for 5 minutes on thisWork by yourself for 5 minutes on this

Compare your answers with the person Compare your answers with the person next to you – what conclusions can you next to you – what conclusions can you draw about the two sets of lists? Be ready draw about the two sets of lists? Be ready to feedback one observation you’ve made to feedback one observation you’ve made about your answers.about your answers.

Language is used to police Language is used to police behaviour and enforce men’s behaviour and enforce men’s superior place in society superior place in society woman’s inferior place in woman’s inferior place in society.society.

What questions would you want to ask of this What questions would you want to ask of this conclusion in order to prove or disprove its conclusion in order to prove or disprove its truth?truth?

Put your idea on post it note and keep it safe.Put your idea on post it note and keep it safe.

To begin with, let’s look at naming To begin with, let’s look at naming conventionsconventions

How many different words are How many different words are there to refer to a woman? What there to refer to a woman? What can they be called? Divide your can they be called? Divide your word choices into positive and word choices into positive and negative words.negative words.

How would you categorise these How would you categorise these words?words?

What conclusions can you draw What conclusions can you draw about how naming conventions about how naming conventions are used in relation to women?are used in relation to women?

Shirley Russell, Grammar, Shirley Russell, Grammar, Structure and Style, pp.169 - 175Structure and Style, pp.169 - 175

Shirley Russell argues that insulting is a means of Shirley Russell argues that insulting is a means of control. She quotes Julia Stanley, who claims that in a control. She quotes Julia Stanley, who claims that in a large lexicon of terms for males, 26 are non-standard large lexicon of terms for males, 26 are non-standard nouns that denote promiscuous men. Some have nouns that denote promiscuous men. Some have approving connotation (stallion, stud). In the list of approving connotation (stallion, stud). In the list of nouns for women are 220 which denote promiscuity (e.g. nouns for women are 220 which denote promiscuity (e.g. slut, scrubber, tart). All have disapproving connotation. slut, scrubber, tart). All have disapproving connotation. Equally terms denoting abstinence – like the noun Equally terms denoting abstinence – like the noun phrase tight bitch are disapproving. In “Losing Out” phrase tight bitch are disapproving. In “Losing Out” Professor Sue Lees argues that men control female Professor Sue Lees argues that men control female behaviour by use of such terms, especially slag. Note behaviour by use of such terms, especially slag. Note that today both dog and bitch are used pejoratively of that today both dog and bitch are used pejoratively of women. Dog denotes physical unattractiveness, while women. Dog denotes physical unattractiveness, while bitch denotes a fault of character.bitch denotes a fault of character.

Listen WriteListen Write

Now make a note of Now make a note of three observations three observations you can make on the you can make on the basis of what you’ve basis of what you’ve heard.heard.

Let’s compare your Let’s compare your thoughts with the thoughts with the person next to you.person next to you.

Robin LakoffRobin Lakoff

Edit this linguistic Edit this linguistic article. What 5 key article. What 5 key points do you think points do you think Robin Lakoff is Robin Lakoff is making? Record your making? Record your ideas.ideas.

Let’s go back to the original hypothesis – Let’s go back to the original hypothesis – has your question been answered?has your question been answered?

Language is used to police behaviour Language is used to police behaviour and enforce men’s superior place in and enforce men’s superior place in society woman’s inferior place in society woman’s inferior place in society.society.

Sapir Whorf hypothesisSapir Whorf hypothesisA hypothesis holding that the structure of a A hypothesis holding that the structure of a language affects the perceptions of reality of its language affects the perceptions of reality of its speakers and thus influences their thought patterns speakers and thus influences their thought patterns and worldviews.and worldviews.

Do you agree or disagree with this Do you agree or disagree with this point of view?point of view?

Take 5 minutes to respond to what we Take 5 minutes to respond to what we have discussed so far. have discussed so far.

Do you agree that these terms are Do you agree that these terms are patronising and deeming to women? patronising and deeming to women?

Do you think that the English Language, Do you think that the English Language, based on this example, is andocentric?based on this example, is andocentric?

Do you think that linguistics like Russell Do you think that linguistics like Russell and Stanley are ignoring the male point of and Stanley are ignoring the male point of view?view?

For next lesson….For next lesson….

Find 7 adverts Find 7 adverts involving women and involving women and bring them to next bring them to next lesson (it might be lesson (it might be helpful for you to helpful for you to make a note of which make a note of which publication you got publication you got them from.)them from.)

To begin with….To begin with….

In your groups collate your advertising In your groups collate your advertising images – how would you categorise these images – how would you categorise these images into different groups? images into different groups?

Now make 5 claims about how women are Now make 5 claims about how women are being represented being represented

What the sociologists say…What the sociologists say…notably Jean Kilbourne, Sut Jhally and Erving Goffmannotably Jean Kilbourne, Sut Jhally and Erving Goffman

The Artificial lookThe Artificial look DismembermentDismemberment CommodificationCommodification The feminine touchThe feminine touch Relative sizeRelative size Ritualization of subordination (on the floor, Ritualization of subordination (on the floor,

the kiss, as a child or withdrawn)the kiss, as a child or withdrawn)

Can you make 5 observations Can you make 5 observations about language use?about language use?

Gender identity + gender steroetypes = andocentric Gender identity + gender steroetypes = andocentric language?language?

OROR

Gender identity + andocentric language = gender Gender identity + andocentric language = gender stereotypes? stereotypes?

Sapir Whorf hypothesisSapir Whorf hypothesisA hypothesis holding that the structure of a language A hypothesis holding that the structure of a language affects the perceptions of reality of its speakers and thus affects the perceptions of reality of its speakers and thus influences their thought patterns and worldviews.influences their thought patterns and worldviews.

Nicknames help girls to get on topNicknames help girls to get on top

Career girls shorten their names to Career girls shorten their names to be ‘one of the boys’, a survey be ‘one of the boys’, a survey revealed yesterday.revealed yesterday.

They use abbreviations like Jo, They use abbreviations like Jo, Chris and Sam because they see Chris and Sam because they see feminine names as an obstacle to feminine names as an obstacle to success. success.

Dr Helen Petrie, of Sussex Dr Helen Petrie, of Sussex University, said: ‘They see University, said: ‘They see possessing male traits as a possessing male traits as a positive thing rather than a positive thing rather than a negative thing.’ negative thing.’

‘‘In today’s world maleness is In today’s world maleness is associated with success, associated with success, achievement and being in control.’achievement and being in control.’

‘‘Twice as many women as men Twice as many women as men actively chose to shorten their actively chose to shorten their names to things like Nicky, Charlie names to things like Nicky, Charlie or Mel.’or Mel.’

AggressiveAggressive

The study also showed that The study also showed that women with masculine names women with masculine names were more likely to be tomboys.were more likely to be tomboys.

Dr Petrie said: ‘They not only see Dr Petrie said: ‘They not only see their names as masculine, but live their names as masculine, but live up to it by being aggressive, up to it by being aggressive, forceful and independent.’forceful and independent.’

Would boys ever adopt feminine nicknames?

Round RobinRound Robin

You have two minutes to record your You have two minutes to record your thoughts about the article but from the thoughts about the article but from the perspective of either:perspective of either:

LexisLexis SemanticsSemantics PragmaticsPragmatics

Now feedback your thoughts to your groupNow feedback your thoughts to your group

Let’s go back to the original hypothesis Let’s go back to the original hypothesis

Language is used to police behaviour and Language is used to police behaviour and enforce men’s superior place in society enforce men’s superior place in society woman’s inferior place in society.woman’s inferior place in society.

What conclusions have you drawn on the What conclusions have you drawn on the basis of today’s lesson?basis of today’s lesson?