浅析英语中的性别歧视

英语论文编号:YY331  论文字数:7306.页数:23

A Brief Analysis on Sexism in English
 
Abstract

 Sexism is engrained in the language people speak all over the world. English, one of the most popular languages in the world is no exception. The phenomenon of sexism is not only a linguistic one, but basically, a social issue that is far more notice-worthy than the public would have thought. Demonstrations of Sexism in English are too numerous to be totally covered. This paper illustrates demonstrations from the viewpoints of word-structure, word choosing, sentence structure, sentence pattern, meaning and speech, just to name the most common ones. Then it takes an insight into the causes of sexism in English— the historical, cultural, political, economical, educational, physiological and psychological reasons. History needs reforms to keep marching forward, so does the language. It is only when all these dregs are cleared, can the whole human society to be crowned civilized and the language of English, accurate and elegant.
 
Key Words: Sexism; English; demonstrations; causes.

摘要： 语言是社会的一面镜子，映射出社会发展的方方面面。人类社会发展到今天，经历了原始社会、奴隶社会、封建社会、资本主义社会、社会主义社会（未来共产主义社会的初级阶段）五种社会形态，看似已经取得了巨大进步，进入了高度文明的阶段。在此过程中，女性的地位也从早期男性的附属品提升到如今独立的政治、经济、社会个体。在这个号称“男女平等”的时代，女性正扮演着越来越令人瞩目的角色。然而，这并不代表性别歧视的现象就已经得到了根除。事实上，只要人们稍加留意自己日常使用的语言，就不难发现，语言中性别歧视的现象比比皆是。英语作为一门世界性语言，在词汇、语法、语义等方面都存在着性别歧视的现象。
 全文共分四部分，浅析了英语中的性别歧视现象。其中，第一部分引入了性别歧视的定义。第二部分分别从选词、词句内部结构、意义以及言语特点四个角度详细列举分析了英语语言中性别歧视的表现。第三部分则从历史、文化、政治、经济等方面剖析了这一现象存在的根本原因。最后一部分是对全文的总结。
 英语中的性别歧视现象不只是种语言现象，更是一个社会问题，应当加以改善。研究语言中的性别歧视现象具有双重意义：不仅有利于完善语言本身，令其更加准确、优美，对真正实现男女平等、社会公平也有一定的实践指导作用。  
 
关键词：性别歧视；英语；表现；原因。

Contents
中文摘要………………………………………………………………………...i
Abstract………………………………………………………………………….ii
I. Introduction…………………………………………………………………...1
II. Demonstrations of Sexism in English………………………………………..2
 A. Sexism in Word-Structure and Word Choosing………………………...2
 B. Sexism in Sentence Structure and Sentence Pattern……………………3
 C. Sexism in Meaning……………………………………………………...3
 D. Sexism in Speech……………………………………………………….5
 III. An Insight to the Causes of Sexism in English……………………………...7
 A. Historical and Cultural Reasons………………………………………...7
  1. Biases against Women in the Bible and Greek mythologies…………...7
  2. Some So-Called Scientific Evidences of the Sexual Disparity Theory..8
 B. Political and Economical Reasons……………………………………...9
  1. Terms in American Constitution……………………………………….9
  2. Lack of Equal Political Rights as Men……………………………….10
  3. Work Distribution in Society………………………………………….11
C. Educational Reasons…………………………………………………..12
 1. Limited Education Women Used to Receive…………………………12
 2. Influence of the Literary Works in the Past…………………………..13
D. Physiological and Psychological Reasons…………………………….14
 1. Women’s Physical Weakness to Men…………………………………14
 2. Some Women’s Self-Indulgence to Be Subordinate………………….15
IV. Conclusion………………………………………………………………….16
Notes…………………………………………………………………………...17
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………...19