Peculiarities of Gender Issues in a Language - Literature review Example

Order 353526 Topic: gender issues in language 1. Introduction One has perhaps never hears about a discussion or symposium on the subject, Men-their role in the society. The discussion is always about female gender. The never-ending talk of giving equal rights to women goes on unabated. All the Acts of Parliaments, in countries all over the world will not bring equality for women. The change has to be achieved within-both by men and women. How can one give equal rights to women? God has created her, given her the status of more equal. No one can take that right away. It is the mother, who gives protection for the initial nine months to the divine reproductive force of the Nature-male or female. A female child is victimized, given the second rank, at every stage of life, from the moment of birth, notwithstanding the fact that, she sacrifices at those steps. The female gender needs to be the legal, social and spiritual equal, as compared to the male gender. The relationship between language and gender is one such issue that has demanded the studied attention of the scholars of sociolinguistics and related disciplines. Language is a powerful tool to represent and structure the world. It helps to construct identity and human relationships. It manifests and perpetuates the gender differences. The inter-relationship of language and gender along with the ways to reduce and nullify the gender inequality in language use is an important issue, that concerns the right-thinking people. In her book “Language and gender: an introduction” Mary M. Tablot writes, “In the dominance framework, language patterns are interpreted as manifestations of a patriarchal social order. Hence asymmetries in the language use of men and women are interpreted as enactments of male privilege; for example, interruptions are viewed as a way of “doing” power face-to-face interaction( West and Zimmerman 1983:111)(Tablot, p.131)Intense discussion as for language and gender have been going on since 1970s as for identification of distinct female and male speaking styles.“The field was also characterised by different positions, retrospectively termed ‘deficit’, ‘(male) dominance’ and ‘(cultural) difference’. Research associated with the deficit position saw women’s language use as deficient (relative to men’s) in various ways; the male dominance position placed greater emphasis on differences in power between female and male speakers; and the cultural difference position saw women’s and men’s language use as ‘culturally’ different but not unequal.” (Teaching....) The essential difference between mans and womens language is noticeable. When gender differences are seen and analysed from various perspectives, sociologists,psychologists and scholars of other specialties, find it difficult to reach the common ground. This is obvious, for their viewpoints and study-angles vary, which result in practical difficulties to strike the balance. Tablot quotes the observation of Cameron to write, “ dominance and difference represented, historically speaking, particular moments in feminism: dominance was the moment of feminist outrage, of being witness to oppression in all aspects of womens lives, while difference was the moment of feminist celebration, reclaiming and revaluing womens distinctive cultural traditions.(1996:41) What I have presented above is a somewhat simplified picture of the three frameworks, deficit, dominance and difference. In practice there is a good deal of overlap between them and they are chronologically not as straightforward as I have implied.”(Tablot, p.132) It is in this context, one has to investigate the cultural differences and language norms of male and female genders, language structure in general and the discourse elements that characterise males and females. Not all categories of male and female gender can be clubbed one group and while trying to explain the difference in language usage, it is important to understand gender as a social category, and not as a simple biological criterion. An individual, male or female, is not the absolute controller of identities. They are shaped by the society and the language standard conforms to that of the society in which they live. Language style is in tandem to the cultural traits, biases and stereotypes of the society. Firstly, the precedent set by such stereotypes is in front of an individual, who further activates it. Such a member of feminine gender accepts influences of identity, including language, traits of character and interests. The genuine problems of the female gender arise here. Tablot writes, “ Just as there is an unequal division of labour in the workplace on sexual grounds, so the labour in private conversations is divided unequally.”(p.131) A society that does not provide the same platform to the female gender as compared to men, suffers from many deficiencies on the social, cultural and political fronts. The contemporary viewpoints find importance with the spread of feminism which has seen growth like the octopus—in all directions! Sociolinguists have found their target in the evaluation of language variations taking into consideration gender and social aspects. Their detailed study as for the phonological variability leads them to view the issue of language and gender on the basis of perspectives like social or cultural, political or psychological. Some scholars have pointed out that womens language is more standardised than mens language. This has led to endless questions and counter-questions amongst the scholars, with no unanimous agreement possible, up-till now. The observational are varied—that speech styles of females differs from mens style, women use evasive utterances, they are more polite, women prefer modified pronunciation and grammar, tag questions form part of their style etc. The other view point is, speech of the female gender is interlinked with their social positions and previous experience. The trends, in the 21st century, as they are prevalent in the society, do not find much favor for the female gender. The ability of women to utilize specific strategies for communication to enable them to overcome misunderstanding, it is observed, such efforts are treated ironically both by males and females. A female utilising authoritative language is considered as lack of feminine grace. In the professional areas, if she speaks softly, she is supposed to lack professional skills. Here arises the question of glass ceiling. This duplicity deprives a woman of the possibility to reach high positions. Subordination from the male section, is commonplace in offices. The subject of humour also is not fair to them. Humour in a social setting is supposed to be initiated by someone higher in the status; women are considered as lower status than males. Many feminist positions are not of choices. They have fallen to their lot due to inevitability on account of cultural,social and political conditions prevailing in the society. Given the option, women would like to evade them and walk to liberation. Judith Butler writes, “....gender is not always constituted coherently or consistently in different historical contexts, and because gender intersects with social, class, ethnic, sexual, and regional modalities of discursively constituted identities. As a result, it becomes impossible to separate out “gender” from the political and cultural intersections in which it is invariably produced and maintained.”(Butler,1990,p.3) Misunderstandings of the sexes arises because the way they are structured. Women easily connect emotionally in conversation whereas men stick to reason; they would like to guided by knowledge. Apart from the language Deborah Tannen, gives importance to the style of communication that contribute to the smoothness or hindrance of the conversation. What one speaks is no doubt important; but how one speaks, what one speaks, is more important. That is the way to build bridges of understanding. Tannen writes, “ Women are also concerned with achieving status and avoiding failure, but these are not the goals they are focused on all time, and they tend to pursue them in the guise of connection. And men are also concerned with achieving involvement and avoiding isolation, but they are not focused on these goals, and they tend to pursue them in the guise of opposition.”(Tannen, 2001,p.25) Mutual misunderstanding as for failing to gauge the wants of each other is the stumbling block in the possible smooth relationships between the female and male genders. 2. This review is about an article reproduced in New York Timers, dated January 21,2010,“Changing the Language of Fatherhood.” A child is born and a new gender-laden language emerges in the family and around. Even in modern times, judged from any angle, the load of parenting responsibility, to a great extent, falls on women. There is an imbalance. The talks between men and women, may be how to reduce the imbalance if such a need arises. Does the concerned woman feels subjugated at this juncture? Do the pages of human history related to a number of gender biases, warn to teach the same lessons? What happened in the past, what his happening at present, and what the future holds in store for the female gender? Fathers are less than full partners in the parental relationship. Divine designs want it that way! There is no doubt about it. Secular rules and disciplines have to fall in line. Family Medical Leave Act, has provision for three months medical leave to mothers, not fathers! The author recalls how her colleagues reacted, may be in jest, thus: “When my parental leave began, some of my co-workers (with the best of intentions, I should add), threw me a little party to celebrate my “extended vacation.” Grateful though I was, I tried my best to explain that I wasn’t going on vacation. I was going to be a parent — full-time.”The three months leaved provides her with an opportunity to bond with her son. Some of the reactions reveal the present social conditions and attitudes of the society relating to mother and childcare. She writes, “ I was asked if I was babysitting the kid for the day or playing nanny.” Knowingly or unknowingly, the scale of justice has tilted against the woman. History is repeating itself. The author makes an important observations, and deals with the gender bias issue in a simple way, though it is profound. Hundreds of texts have seen the light of the day on the subject of gender through the research and brilliance of intellectuals and social scientists. She observes, “The roles that a mother plays in the lives of her children are so integral that to refer to her using language that suggests an occasional, casual participant in the child’s rearing would be, at best, dismissive, and, at worst, offensive. So why isn’t the same true for fathers? Our lexicon for describing what fathers actually do is limited at best: “mothering” is the standard description of what we need when we want to be comforted; “fathering” is a word, just not one I’ve ever heard anyone actually use.” From the stage from where she plays the role of the mother, the author moves to the spectators gallery to continue the gender watch. She is the mother of the child as well as the critique on the issue. She believes, all concerned need to use the dignified language, and by using trivializing connotations no one is a gainer. She is pained, when someone says “DH”( darling husband) to compliment the husband, whenever he babysits junior for a few hours. The essential dignity of the job suffers. Her question is, should the husband get a tip also? The husband is parenting, just like the mother and the responsibility is shared. What matters is the mutual smile of sharing the joy of seeing the baby grow. She takes exception to the traditional family settings and would like to follow the language where mom and dad are treated on equal footing. Her question is why mom as “parent” and dad as “day care provider?” This is a small observation but it throws light on a big issue that concerns the female gender. As Judith Butler in her book “Gender Trouble” observes, “ The urgency of feminism to establish a universal status for patriarchy in order to strengthen the appearance of feminisms own claims to be representative has occasionally motivated the shortcut to a categorical or fictive universality of the structure of domination, held to produce womens common subjugated experience.”(1990,p. 3-4) It looks so simple an issue, but language matters. Language reveals something substantial about an individual, male or female, their attitudes, cultural mores. It shapes their lives-not the standard of living, but the standard of life. Often, in offices men would describe their female co-workers as “chicks.” Taken in isolation, such a comment can be dismissed in lighter vein. But as an issue--history is testimony-- culturally men have hunted, and women stayed back at home to raise kids. Language depends upon the environment in which an individual has evolved. The language reflects the inner heart (personality) of an individual, male or female. Whether the language can change the society, or the society can change the language style is a difficult question to answer. It is as good as trying to find out egg first or hen first! Currently men are on the move, they are doing more than what they did not too in the distant past. They are parenting( not baby sitting) in the correct sense of the term. Broadly speaking, the thinking and changing process is continuing with both the father and the mother, as it is the demand of the present times. With the onset of the industrial and internet revolution and the impact of the materialistic civilization, with immense educational facilities, the number of working mothers has substantially increased. When the spouse has to attend the office, man is seized of the issue. The entire pattern of life undergoes changes. Adult male attention is part of childs growth. When the societal attitudes and related behaviour changes, an ideal family emerges, which is the need of the society in the present times. But men and women should not, unnecessarily be classified into gender roles, actively or passively. Parenting responsibility is not a concession the father is giving to his spouse or for the child. It is ones loving duty. ***************** Works Cited: Belkin, Lisa: Changing the Language of Fatherhood;Article in New York Times, January 21, 2010(originally published on June 13,2009.) Butler, Judith: Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (Thinking Gender Series); Routledge (November 15, 1989) Talbot, Mary:Language and Gender: An Introduction; Polity, January 12, 1999 Tannen, Deborah: You Just Dont Understand: Women and Men in Conversation; Harper Paperbacks; 1 edition, July 24, 2001 Teaching language and gender - Good Practice Guide | Subject ... The teaching of language...(e.g. deficit/dominance/difference and performativity theory) ... – Retrieved on January 21,2010 Read More