Contents
Abstract..............................................................................I
Key Words.............................................................................I
摘要.................................................................................Ⅱ
关键词................................................................................Ⅱ
Introduction..........................................................................1
I. Phenomena of Sexism in the English Language........................................2
A. Male-as-norm Attitude..............................................................2
1. Generic Pronouns...................................................................2
2. Female as Male’s Appendix.........................................................2
3. Woman as Exception.................................................................3
B. Semantic Degradation of Woman.................................................4
C. Word Order....................................................................5
D. Sexism in Social Life.........................................................5
E. Sexism in Proverbs and Idioms.................................................6
II. Reasons of Sexism in the English Language.........................................7
A. “Patriarchy” Cultural Stereotype.................................................7
B. Double Criterion of Discourse Hegemony.............................................8
C. “Sex Role” in Community .........................................................10
D. Results of Theory of Social Identity...............................................11
E. Traditional Ethics that the Man is Superior to the Woman...........................11
III. Elimination of Sexism in the English Language....................................12
A. Transformation-Sexist Words Transformed Into Nonsexist Words..................12
B. Countermeasures to Sexism Caused by the Third Person Pronoun’s General Referenc...14
Conclusion............................................................................16
Acknowledgements......................................................................17
Bibliography..........................................................................18
Abstract
Language plays an important role in society. As a phenomenon of society, language reflects all the sides of human society naturally. Sexism is a phenomenon that takes a male-as-norm attitude, trivializing, insulting or rendering women invisible. As a special social phenomenon, sexism is inevitably reflected through language.
To start with, the thesis analyses sexism in terms of the generic masculine words, word order and semantic derogation of women in greater detail. Then the thesis traces the reasons for the occurrence of sexism in the English language. In nature, sexism in language reflects sexism in society. The two are closely related. Social connotations of sexism in English tell the relationship between phenomenon of sexism in language and essence of sexism in society. Finally, a large part of the thesis is contributed to how to change sexism in English. The thesis thinks that the key to the problem is: (1) to use nonsexist words instead of sexist words; (2) to solve the problem of generic masculine pronouns. The elimination of linguistic sexism lies in social change. Only by changing the social structure, that is, women and men own really equal status, can language equality be truly achieved.
