GENDER FAIR

LANGUAGE
GEC E5: CHAPTER 2
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Identify the ways Explain how gender-fair

01 language discriminates 03 language can be realized.
against women;

State forms of
02 discrimination in
languages; and
 LANGUAGE AND
GENDER RELATIONS
 How does language relates to gender?

Many gendered assumptions are present when it comes to

LANGUAGE.

❑ A potent tool for how human understand and participate in the

world.
❑ Language defines men and women differently as seen in
common adjectives used with these genders.
Violations of the Gender-fair
Language
Sexist language is a tool that reinforces
unequal gender relations through;
✓ Sex stereotypes
✓ Microaggressions and;
✓ Sexual harassment.

All in all, language is a powerful force that plays a

significant role in how one perceives the world.
 So what exactly is a
microaggression?
Microaggression is verbal or nonverbal behavior that,
intentionally or unintentionally, can communicate
denigratory behavior towards the members of an
oppressed group which often goes unnoticed and
unreported.

In simple words, it is a form of discrimination which

is very subtle but yet harmful.
There are mainly three forms of Microaggressions:

❑ MICROASSAULTS
❑ MICROINSULTS
❑ MICROINVALIDATIONS
MICROASSAULTS- purposeful discriminatory actions
MICROINSULTS (communicate a covert insulting message)
MICROINVALIDATIONS
(often unintentional
behavior or comments that
dismiss the thoughts,
feelings or experiences of
certain person or groups)
"Microaggressions can seem small when dealt
with one by one. But when repeated over
time, they can have a major impact."
 Few other examples of common gender-related microaggressions
are:

MANSPLAINING – Explaining a subject

to a woman in a condescending,
overconfident, and often oversimplified
manner with a presumption that she
wouldn’t know about it.
MANTERRUPTING
- Unnecessary interruption
of a woman by a man
whenever she is trying to
convey her ideas or
thoughts.
Bropropriating - A
man taking a
woman's idea and
showing it as his own
hence, taking all the
credit for it.
Boys will be boys’ – A phrase used to
dismiss any traditionally masculine
behavior and not holding men accountable
for their wrong deeds.
Sexist behavior stems from stereotypes of gender roles

SEXISM is defined as:

“Any act, gesture, visual representation, spoken or written words,

practice, or behavior based upon the idea that a person or a group of
persons is inferior because of their sex, which occurs in the public or
private sphere, whether online or offline.”

It basically devalues members of one sex and thus

foster gender inequality.
 The following are condensed versions and life examples of sexism in
language and violations of gender-fair language.

INVISIBILIZATION OF FOSTERING UNEQUAL HIDDEN

WOMEN GENDER RELATIONS ASSUMPTIONS

01 02 03 04 05

TRIVIALIZATION OF GENDER
WOMEN POLARIZATION
INVISIBILIZATION OF WOMEN
The invisibilization of women is
rooted in the assumption that
men are dominant and are the
norm of the fullness of the
humanity, and women do not
exist.
1.The use of generic masculine and singular masculine
pronouns.

The use of the word “mankind” assumes that men are

representative of all people on this planet, and that women’s
presence or roles are not acknowledged. Similarly, saying “guys”
when referring to a mixed-gender group assumes that girls are
invisible, and calls attention to the male gender, giving them a
stronger presence.
1.The use of generic masculine and singular masculine pronouns.
Examples of Generic Masculine Alternative
mankind, men human beings, humans, humankind, humanity

forefather ancestor

manhood adulthood, maturity

founding fathers founders

manpower human resources, staff, personnel, labor force

brotherhood of man unity of people, humankind

1.The use of generic masculine and singular masculine pronouns.
Examples of singular masculine Alternative
pronouns
Each student should bring his Each student should bring his or her notebook to class
notebook to class every day. every day.

All students should bring their notebooks to class every

day.

If a customer has complaint, send If a customer has complaint, send him or her to the
him to the service desk. service desk.

Customers with complaints should be sent to the

service desk.
 2. The use of terms ending in “man” that may be
performed by individuals of either sex.

For instance, the title “businessman” and

“chairman” assume that all businessmen or
chairmen are men and that certain jobs may not
be for women, which is not true.
2. The use of terms ending in “man” that may be performed by
individuals of either sex.
Examples Alternative
Anchorman anchor, anchorperson
Cameraman camera operators, cinematographer,
photographer

Congressman representative
Policeman police officer, law enforcement officer

Salesman salesperson, sales representative

 3. The assumption that certain functions or jobs are
performed by men instead of both genders

For example, the sentences “The farmers and their wives tilled
the land.” or “The politicians and their wives lobbied for
change.” assumes that men can have jobs such as lawyers,
doctors, or farmers, and women who do the same work are still
made to be known as wives, with their identities forever linked
to being married to their husbands.
3. The assumption that certain functions or jobs are performed by
men instead of both genders
Examples Alternative
Lawyers/doctors/farmers and Lawyers/doctors/farmers and their
their wives spouses
The teacher and her students The teacher and his or her students,

Teachers and their students

The secretary and her boss The secretary and his or her boss,

The secretaries and their bosses

TRIVIALIZATION
OF WOMEN
1. Bringing attention to the gender of a person, if that person is a
women.

The use of “lady”, “girl” or “woman” along with the noun brings
attention to the gender of the person rather than to the job or
function. Examples of these include, “girl athlete,” “woman
doctor,” “lady guard,” and “working wives.” This notion also
works for men who enter traditionally female jobs such as
“male nurses,” “male nannies,” or “male secretaries.”
3. The perception of women as immature.

Women may be labeled as

“darling” or “baby” by those who
do not know them, making them
appear childlike or juvenile.
4. The objectification, likening to objects, of
women.

By being called “honey”, “sweets” or

“chicks” women become devalued,
especially if they are in an environment that
merits formality such as the workplace.
FOSTERING UNEQUAL GENDER RELATIONS
Language that lacks parallelism fosters unequal
gender relations. The use of “man and wife”
assumes that men are still men and women’s
identities’ are subsumed and shifted into being in a
relation to husband.
The personal care brand Dove recently came out with an advertisement that
use parallel adjectives to show the difference in perception regarding men
and women.

Both men and women did the same activity, but were describe differently. In
the ad, man who took the lead were considered as the “boss”, while women
who have the same initiative were considered “bossy”. Men who worked
overtime were seen as “providers”, while women who did the same were
seen as “uncaring”.

This polarization of adjectives shows how perception does change how one
sees certain acts, depending on who performs them.
Other examples:

1. We describe angry men as outraged, while angry women

are hysterical.
2. Forceful men are perceived charismatic while forceful
women are labeled domineering
3. Men who are concerned are thoughtful, while women of the
same type are clingy.
 HIDDEN
ASSUMPTIONS
HIDDEN ASSUMPTIONS
Hidden assumptions in sentences can also be forms of
microaggression if the underlying perceptions are sexist and
degrading.

For example, the statement, “The father is babysitting

his children”, assumes that the father is not a caregiver,
and that any attempt he has at parenting is temporary
as the mother is the main caregiver.
To understand the concept better, compare these two statements:

Men can care for children just as well as women.

(The statement is acceptable)
VS
Women can care for children just as well as men.
(The statement is quite strange)
 Philippine Culture and Language
Filipino is mainly gender-neutral, without gendered characteristics or
titles for men or women.

In Filipino, mostly Tagalog, we only use “siya ” or “them” to refer to a

person. There’s no “him/her” or “he/she” either. We call our husband or
wife “asawa ” (spouse) or “kabiyak” (other half).

Words that are gendered came from another culture, which were
adopted after 400 years of colonization.
SEXIST LANGUAGE AND
CULTURE
Common themes of sexist language are
commercialization and trivialization of women. These
sexist portrayals of women and children extend to the
advertising industry, and the arts. The normalization of
sexism makes violence against women and children
acceptable or tolerable.
Using language for gender stereotyping can
contribute to sexism by reinforcing the idea
that certain words and traits should only be
associated with specific genders.
How people relate to each other on a day-to-day basis
reinforces behavior, both positive and negative. To call
someone stupid every day, for example, should have an
effect on his or her potential. In turn, language through its
repetition of roles, stereotypes, and adjectives affects how
one person enact his or her capabilities.
Constantly mocking or joking about women/LGBT, sexualizing them,
making them appear weak would indeed make them internalize their
capabilities.

That being said, language is not inherently sexist.

Being sexist depends on a specific culture.
Similarly, the attitude of a culture towards a
certain gender may influence the words used,
creating sexist language.
a
The use of gender-fair language in
educational institutions and the
removal of sexist language as
imperative to gender-responsiveness is
currently being advocated.
GABRIELA (General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms,
Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Actions) Women’s Party
National President and former Party-list Representative Liza
Maza called for a ban of sexist language in all official
communication and documents in the House of
Representatives.
Language, then, is more than just the arrangement of words,
cultures and values come from language and vice versa.
Language also a process that represents one’s view, beliefs,
and experiences. It must be changed to reflect the change in
the world as well as to free from bias words can affect how
person sees oneself and others around him or her.
END OF
DISCUSSION