Unit 12 Gender Bias in Language
诚信的力量 Language is a very powerful element。 It is the most common method of communication. Yet it is often misunderstood and misinterpreted， for language is a very complicated mechanism with a great deal of nuance。 There are times when in conversation with another individual， that we must take into account the person’s linguistic genealogy. There are people who u language that would be considered prejudicial or biad in u。 But the question that is raid is in regard to language usage: Is language the cau of the bias or is it reflective of the preexisting bias that the ur holds? There are tho who believe that the language that we u in day—to-day conversation is biad in and of itlf。 They feel that the term ”mailman”， for example, is one that excludes women mail carriers。 Then there are tho who feel that language is a reflection of the prejudices that people have within themlves. That is to say， the words that people choo to u in conversation denote the bias that they harbor within their own existence.骂名
There are words in the English language that are existing or have existed （some of the
m have changed with the new wave of “political correctness” coming about) that have inherently been xually biad against women. For example, the person who investigates reported complaints （as from consumers or students）, reports findings， and helps to achieve fair and impartial ttlements is ombudsman (Merriam—Webster Dictionary）， but ombudsperson here at Indiana State University。 This is an example of the gender bias that exists in the English language. The language is arranged so that men are identified with exalted positions, and women are identified with more rvice—oriented positions in which they are being dominated and instructed by men. So the language ud to convey this type of male supremacy is generally reflecting the honored position of the male and the subrvience of the female。 Even in relationships, the male in the home is often referred to as the “man of the hou，” even if it is a 4-year-old child。 It is highly insulting to say that a 4—year-old male， bad solely on his gender, is more qualified and capable of conducting the business and affairs of the home than his possibly well-educated, highly intellectual mother. There is a definite disparity in that situation。一双小小手
In American culture， a woman is valued for the attractiveness of her body， while a man is valued for his physical strength and his achievements。 Even in the example of word pairs the bias is evident。 The masculine word is put before the feminine word, as in the examples of Mr. and Mrs., his and hers, boys and girls, men and women， kings and queens， brothers and sisters， guys and dolls， and host and hostess. This shows that the usage of many of the English words is also what contributes to the bias prent in the English language。
Alleen Pace Nilnn notes that there are instances when women are en as passive while men are active and bring things into being. She us the example of the wedding ceremony. In the beginning of the ceremony， the father is asked who gives the bride away and he answers， “I do.” It is at this point that Niln argues that the gender bias comes into play。 The traditional concept of the bride as something to be handed from one man （the father） to another man (the husband-to—be） is perpetuated. Another example is in the instance of xual relationships. The women become brides while men wed women。 The man takes away a woman’s virginity and a woman los her virginity.
This denotes her inability， apparently due to her gender， to hold on to something that is a part of her, thus enforcing the man's ability and right to claim something that is not his。
电母>历史著作
