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The power of literary analysis
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The power of literary analysis
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Language has been used in many different ways since the beginning of its construction. Just like stereotypes can follow fashion, they can follow words. An example of a stereotypical word for a female who is of refined behavior and speech is “lady”. According to the public, someone who is a “lady” is from an upperclass. The word “woman," however, is referred to simply as a generic word for a female human being, as well as a common term for a female who is independent.Though some people do not see the difference between the two words, there is a distinct difference between the terms. This contrast between the two words that have the same definition is known as a word’s connotation. Connotation is subtle and indirect; however, it can be easily …show more content…
The word “woman” originally came from the word “wife”. The word’s general definition is a term used to describe a human female; this is known as a word’s denotation. Because of its reputation, the word has been seen in the idiom, “Be one’s own woman”. This expression is meant to encourage people, especially females, to be confident and independent. Although formerly “woman” was at times regarded to as demeaning, while “lady” was the indication of courtesy, the word “woman” is the appellative preferred by most modern females. Just as a male would prefer to be called a man, females prefer to be called women, because it gains a sense of maturity and …show more content…
For instance, in the twentieth-century, it was more honorable to be referred to as a lady, rather than a woman.This is because the word woman was seen as a common word for ordinary females, while the word lady was used to describe someone of a higher social class. Similarly, in the modern day, depending on the culture of the area that you reside in, the term “woman” or “lady” could have a negative connotation. This is because in some cultures, to be a woman is also to be inferior to men. However, in some cultures, the term “lady” expresses a woman who is stuck up and snotty. Also, the word “woman” has been used to ridicule boys who are sluggish or feeble. If a boy was called a “woman,” he wouldn't necessarily be embarrassed that he was called the opposite sex, but rather, that he was compared to someone who is seen as weak and fragile. These two words are known for their imaginable stereotypes. As one would imagine a woman standing behind a podium, giving a candid speech to her fellow citizens, one would also imagine a lady sitting beside a table, drinking tea with her pinky finger lifted up. This is just one example of how both terms are referred to in the modern
This is seen in popular cultural too often than is comfortable for such an advanced modern culture as ours. Women who are ambitious are seen as bitchy and conniving while men are seen as ambitious. Examples can be found in politics and entertainment. Prominent figures such as Senator Hillary Rodham-Clinton and former Attorney General Janet Reno, were forced to take a more masculine persona, because people were so threatened by their power. Senator Clinton was always seen as a woman to be watched, just because she wanted her own life while her husband governed the country. She was even criticized for keeping her maiden name instead of dropping it in lieu of the traditional husband's name.
The English Language Systematically Degrades and Devalues Women It is often argued that the English language needs to be modernised to keep pace with the rapidly changing societies in the world. One reason for this is many words and their usages are viewed as sexist, in that they are discriminating against individuals based on their gender. In this essay, I shall discuss many factors relevant to the argument that the English language systematically degrades and devalues women. One possible argument in agreement with this statement is that male words and their female equivalents are often asymmetrical in their connotations and implications. For example, pairs of words such as ‘bachelor’ and ‘spinster’, have distinctively different associations: ‘spinster’ has relatively negative undertones, and conjures the image of an aging woman with a dull lifestyle, whereas the word ‘bachelor’ suggests a more carefree, younger man with an exciting and enjoyable way of life.
When stereotypes about women are thrown down on paper many women (usually called feminist) take offense to them. They don't believe women are the weaker sex, or think the man is the worker of the household. They don't believe a male should put women on a pedestal, they just want to be equal. They starve for equality and criticize those with different perspectives on how it should be
In the essay, “You Are What You Say”, by Robin Lakoff, she explains how certain words can be used to degrade an individual. Lakoff makes clear that a girl is someone “. . . who is . . . too immature and too far from real life to be entrusted with responsibilities or with decisions of any serious or important nature” (Lakoff, “You Are What You Say”, pg.3). A girl is someone who cannot be taken seriously. A girl is simply incapable of running a women’s errand, because they are incredibly immature. Yet, women are still referred to as girls, since calling someone a woman is “embarrassing”. She also elaborates on being called a “lady” and how that is degrading as well. She used the example of calling a woman doctor a “lady doctor”, which is extremely degrading since no one calls a man doctor a “gentleman doctor”. Being called a “lady” also implies that she is helpless and not someone to be taken seriously. So, language can and is used to degrade
The stereotyping of gender in modern society has become so deeply engrained in our culture that it often goes unnoticed. Laurel Richardson’s “Gender Stereotyping in the English Language” and Louis Gould’s “X: A Fabulous Child’s Story” are two readings which highlight the importance we tend to place on gender norms in addition to the consequences gender typecasting may have on people in regards to their identity. Throughout their articles, Gould and Richardson both explain the ways in which a gender-based vocabulary demonstrates and encourages internalized societal beliefs about the roles of men and women.
At a young age people learned sexist ways and how to say things, but they were never told that it was sexist. But as you grow older that’s all you hear is, it’s not mail man is mail deliver or lunch lady it is actually the food server. There are also people that have been taught to not be sexist, those people tend not to be corrected that often. And one of the things that get people the most, is when people think of rolls in society that are given to those men and women. You can also see all forms of sexism being used at school, in sports, or at a job, and also toward both men and women of both past and present and how it is also a big deal in other countries.
When posed with the question “What is woman?” it seems a daunting task to lay an umbrella statement to describe an entire gender. Upon further reflection, however, it seems that this overwhelming inability to answer the question, may in fact, be the answer to the question itself. Within the past two decades Maria Lugones and Elizabeth Spelman, Caroline Whitbeck, Geraldine Finn, and Helene Cixous have addressed the meaning of woman. There is not a concrete answer to “What is woman?” either produced by women or produced through men’s perceptions of women.
Most societies have been patriarchal historically, and the feminist movement has only occurred relatively recently. There cannot be ideological equality while there is still a stigma to being born differently, or of the “inferior sex.” People make assumptions on others based entirely on their sex, such as females are supposed to be nurturing and weak while males are supposed to be dominant and strong. The vernacular language use implies a sexist attitude that is prevalent in society. There are several solutions to reduce the apparent sexist lexicon.
Of Words and Women missing works cited There is an old saying that plays something to the tune of, "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me. " It is possible that such a phrase was popularized in order for people to equip themselves with a psychological defense against the reality that words can, in fact, have a tremendous amount of significance depending on their usage and context. The careful manipulation of language in essays, for example, is one way that words can be arranged and exploited. This is a tool that authors will often use to reach a specific audience.
Deborah Tannen’s essay, “There Is No Unmarked Woman”, explores the idea of “marked” and “unmarked” words, styles, titles, and how females have no ability to choose an unmarked position in life. She posits that “The unmarked forms of most English words also convey ‘male’” (88). Tannen is incorrect in her premises because females are able to choose unmarked hair and clothing styles, men are marked just as often as women, and many unmarked forms of words no longer convey “male.”
Nilsen began this study of the dictionary not with the intention of prescribing language change but simply to see what the language would reveal about sexism to her. Sexism is not something that existing independently in American English or in the particular dictionary that she happened to read. Rather it exists in people's minds.
For years women have been waxing, plucking and beautifying themselves for one reason and one reason only; because they think that is beauty. A woman is only classified as a lady if she can walk, talk and dress the part. The way that society has viewed femininity has changed immensely over the past hundred years, but acting like a tomboy or, heaven forbid, being strong and independent is looked down upon in the eyes of men and other women. Certain standards of ladylike demeanor have become outdated in today’s society, and women should be looked at as beautiful when strong and independent. But what defines a woman to be ladylike, and can it be defined as a single type? I believe that standards of beauty have changed, and standing out is what will get you ahead in society today. Stereotypes of the ideal female must be brought down to work on achieving inner beauty and internal happiness.
Sexism in language takes many forms, though theses may be reduced to 3 types: language ignores, it defines and it deprecates women. Women and girls are hurt both physically and materially by it. Everyda...
I believe that the English language is very biased towards women. We live in a patriarchal society, an “order characterized by male dominance and the means of perpetuating that dominance”. Because of this, our language has been molded mostly by males, resulting in this “sexism in language” (Spender, 1980). This did not happen overnight. Instead, our language has evolved over centuries.
The differences between women and men are not solely biological. Our society’s culture has established a set of unwritten cultural laws of how each gender should act, or in other words society has ascribed a stereotype. Men’s gender identity has been one of masculinity, and masculinity is defined as referring to a man or things described as manly. What does manly mean though? Is a male manly if he is “Mr. Fix-it”, or the jock, or if he sits on the couch on Sunday watching football? This latter statement is a stereotype of men, that has been around for decades, and is current as well, but starting with the 1960’s a man’s role started to change, despite the stereotype not changing to accommodate it. For the past 40 years one can see how men have taken on roles stereotypically ascribed to women, such roles including being the “stay-at-home mom”, which we can find an excellent example of in the 1980’s film “Mr.