Author Question: Discuss how language affects the understanding of gender in U.S. society. What will be an ideal ... (Read 52 times)

Redwolflake15

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 569
Discuss how language affects the understanding of gender in U.S. society.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Discuss the research done in the 1970s regarding gender roles in children's literature. What were the findings? How do they compare to today?
 
  What will be an ideal response?



guyanai

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 349
Answer to Question 1

Feedback: Language perpetuates male dominance by ignoring, trivializing, and sexualizing women. Use of the pronoun he when the sex of the person is unspecified and the generic term mankind to refer to humanity in general demonstrate how the English language ignores women. Common sayings such as that's women's work, jokes about female drivers, and phrases such as wine, women, and song are trivializing. Women, more than men, are commonly referred to in terms that have sexual connotations. Terms used for men that have sexual meanings imply power and success, whereas terms used for women imply promiscuity or being dominated. Research shows that there are many derogatory or disrespectful generic terms for women, but few for men, and of those that exist, such terms are considered derogatory because they invoke the images of women. Some of the more common derogatory terms applied to men actually degrade women in their role as mothers.

Answer to Question 2

Feedback: Weitzman et al. (1972) conducted a classic sociological study of 18 award-winning children's books that found: (a) females were virtually invisible: the ratio of male to female pictures was 11:1, and male to female animals 95:1; (b) boys were shown in outdoor activities while girls were mostly found indoors, and girls' activities were mostly in service to boys; (c) among adults portrayed, men led, women followed, and no women had jobs; all were mothers/wives. Research in the 2000s found that women and girls are still underrepresented in book titles and as central charcaters, and that the stereotype of mother as homemaker/caregiver and father as breadwinner/provider is still prevalent.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

Long-term mental and physical effects from substance abuse include: paranoia, psychosis, immune deficiencies, and organ damage.

Did you know?

Thyroid conditions cause a higher risk of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Did you know?

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) in overdose can seriously damage the liver. It should never be taken by people who use alcohol heavily; it can result in severe liver damage and even a condition requiring a liver transplant.

Did you know?

In inpatient settings, adverse drug events account for an estimated one in three of all hospital adverse events. They affect approximately 2 million hospital stays every year, and prolong hospital stays by between one and five days.

Did you know?

Asthma-like symptoms were first recorded about 3,500 years ago in Egypt. The first manuscript specifically written about asthma was in the year 1190, describing a condition characterized by sudden breathlessness. The treatments listed in this manuscript include chicken soup, herbs, and sexual abstinence.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library