Gendered Word Essay

The origins of gendered word and phrases are a debated topic. To clarify, a word that has a gendered meaning is an utterance that refers to a particular gender or is categorized to a particular gender. While some people believe that the interpretation of the listener is responsible for deriving the gendered meanings of words, others believe that the meanings of gendered adjectives and phrases originate from speaker intent. I believe, however, the context in which a word is used, how it is presented, and the context with which it is interpreted, affect its meaning. This “context” also includes the cultural background of both the speaker and the interpreter. From my perspective, gendered words gain their meanings from various sources, which include both the intentions of the speaker and the interpretations of the hearer. The gendered meanings of words and phrases originate from the cultural background of both the listener and the speaker. One of the ways culture and gender relate is through language. Culture is integral in defining gender roles because different cultures divide their languages, or words and phrases, into gender

In order for an utterance to mean something, it has to be used. Gendered words, in particular, are extremely reliant on communication because, through the interpretation of the listener, the intentions of the speaker, societal norms, and cultural norms, seemingly arbitrary words obtain gendered meanings because they demonstrate qualities that the particular society or culture associates with a certain gender. Although it is possible to argue that either speaker intent or hearer interpretation is the sole origins of gendered adjective meanings, I disagree. I believe that the cultural backgrounds of both the listener and the speaker, combined with the context in which the words are used, and the way they are said, make up the origins of the gendered meanings of words and