Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!watarts!cdanderson
From: cdanderson@watarts.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: sexism in language
Message-ID: <2149@watarts.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 22-Apr-84 23:17:50 EST
Article-I.D.: watarts.2149
Posted: Sun Apr 22 23:17:50 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 24-Apr-84 07:16:03 EST
References: <62@mako.UUCP> mprvaxa.531
Lines: 51



       I, for one (and a male at that), do believe that language has a 
very great affect on how we visualize the world. I know that when I read
the sentence "The Chairman of the Board..." or "Man's role in Nature..."
I do think of mature MALES! 
       That this does affect most people in this fashion was shown in 
a psychology run by a friend of mine. People (of both genders) were asked
to read a sentence like the following "The Chairman said..." and then to 
hit a button when they were finished the sentence. This was followed by
the same procedure using a sentence such as "Mary Smith, the Chairman said..."
The response time for the second variation was statistically significantly
longer than the former, taking into account possible differences in the 
length of the sentences. The reason, as offered by the participants, was that
they had to rethink their mental image of the Chairman.

      Another reason why I think that it is time for the language to change
is that when appelations exist for the role
held by a man vs. a womyn, the latter's becomes that day's 
pejorative label, the "semantic derogation of woman" (Thorne & Henley, ed.;
LANGUAGE AND SEX; 1975; pp. 64-75).  
For example:
           bachelor vs. spinster or old-maid
           geezer or codger vs. hen, heifer, warhorse, crone, hag, or frump
           warlock vs. witch
           Baron vs. Dame (though Baronet, "et" forms also denigrate, also used)
           Master vs. Madam, Miss or Mistress
    To fend off those thinking of accusing me with Orwell's  News-Speak or the 
thought police, he was talking about reducing words or phrases so that they
restricted what it was possible to think about. Bringing in new words to ade-
quetly reflect the new reality (of wimmin's growing independence) is to increase
the mindscape.

    Ah yes, back on the "pejoration of women". Have you noticed  words which
make the female title the same as that of
the male's with the addition of "ette", thereby adding a sense of fluff or frivolity to
the position/person?
 
     While there are many good books which deal with this issue (I'm currently
working on a paper entitled "The Language of Sexism" so have come across some)
Thorne & Henley's LANGUAGE & SEX; 68 Middle Road, Rowley, Mass. 01969; Newbury
House Pub.; 1975, is a very good intro. to the topic and has a fabulous (though
now dated) annotated bibliography of about 250 further works on the subject.

                Enough (too much?) for now,

                        Cameron
                        {ihnp4,decvax,allegra}!watmath!watarts!cdanderson
      I will be working in another city for the next week, and then for
an additional 10 wks., so don't know if I will be able to answer feedback
as I will lack a net-link. Sorry!