Gender and

Language
Media Influence on Gender
Roles
 Lakoff – Talking like a Lady
Differences between individuals of various sex and gender
identifications appear in the language people use

 Lexical Terms

 Expletives

 Tag Questions

The words that people use are not just marked by gender
expression but by who holds power and who does not
 Gender Roles

Reflection:

1) Where do we learn these gender roles?

2) What names or put-downs are directed at

individuals who do not act and speak
according to gendered expectations?

3) How do these labels (from #2) reinforce

gender stereotypes?
Connections & Take-Away Points

 Gender is Socially Constructed through Language!!!

 People typically perform specific gender roles in order

to maintain and abide by social norms and
expectations.

 When individuals do not perform expected gender

roles, they can be marginalized or stigmatized. (similar
to the function of embarrassment in maintaining social norms)

 The way we talk about gender matters. (communication

is constitutive)