Language, Identity, and Non-Binary Gender in Hawai'i (PDF)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Language, Identity, and Non-Binary Gender in Hawai'i (PDF) LANGUAGE, IDENTITY, AND NON-BINARY GENDER IN HAWAI‘I A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN LINGUISTICS OCTOBER 2015 By M. Joelle Kirtley Dissertation Committee: Katie Drager, Chairperson Victoria Anderson Christina Higgins Rebecca Stotzer Lal Zimman Keywords: Gender, Hawai‘i, Sociocultural Linguistics, Phonetic Variation, Masculinity Copyright © 2015 by M. Joelle Kirtley ii To Teej, who taught me to challenge normativities. The world would be so much better if you were still in it. iii Acknowledgements First, and most importantly, thank you to the three people who let me into their lives and provided the data for this research. You are beautiful and strong individuals, and I, and the readers of this dissertation as well, are better people for knowing you. Thank you to the five people serving on my committee, Victoria Anderson, Katie Drager, Christina Higgins, Rebecca Stotzer, and Lal Zimman. Through your diligent commenting and criticism, this dissertation is strengthened and I am made a better researcher and writer. Thank you for your hard work and intelligent insights. Thank you to my peers who have contributed so much not only to this project by way of support and conversation, but also to my career in linguistics. Thank you Mónica Vidal for your shared love of stylistics and for your advice and helpful listening. Thank you Katie Gao for talking through this project with me at every stage and also sharing your research triumphs and fears with me. Your companionship is invaluable. Thank you James Grama for your expert insight and for your comments on the draft. You have been integral not only for this dissertation, but throughout my career as a sociolinguist. Thank you to my advisor, who always goes beyond her duty to support and guide her advisees. Katie Drager, you have shaped me as a thinker and as a writer, and I know that going forward, my greatest aspiration will be to be like you. Thank you to my friends and family who have gotten me this far in life and supported my efforts as a student and researcher. Thank you to Juliet Azan, Claire Stabile, Rachyl Smith, Hyunah Ahn, Raina Heaton, Stephanie Locke, Melody Ross, and Caroline Gonya for your friendship and care. Thank you mom and dad for your love and patience as I have continued to choose to live all over the world and so far away. Thank you to my sister, Nikki, who I grow to love more and more as we get older together. Thank you to my lifelong friend, Jenny Lynn, who taught me how to be different and defy expectations. Thank you to my biggest supporter and the person who has always believed in me the iv most, Marissa. You always expected more of me than I dared expect of myself, and your love has driven me forward. Thank you to my husband Todd. Your compassion, intelligence, and non-conformity make you a perfect partner in every aspect of my life. You have been a huge influence on this dissertation, as the one I talked through ideas with, the one I took along to visit with participants, the one who helped me to solve all technical problems, and the one who read through and provided edits for the first draft. You certainly went beyond the role that a spouse usually takes in the writing of a dissertation, and beyond that, you have been a stupendous companion throughout this process. Thank you, finally, to the funding sources that made this dissertation possible. This project was funded by the Bilinski Fellowship in Linguistics, the University of Hawaiʻi Department of Linguistics Graduate Assistantship, Merit Scholarship, and Achievement Scholarship. v Abstract This dissertation provides a close examination of the linguistic stylings of three individuals in Hawai‘i who identify with non-binary gender: one as māhū, one as a trans man, and one as a masculine lesbian who considers herself ‘one of the guys.’ These three individuals use linguistic resources to construct and project their identities, and through their interaction, they build and communicate their gendered selves. The dissertation uses a combination of methodological approaches in order to thoroughly investigate how language is used in the three speakers’ interactions to do identity work. I spent almost two years getting to know the participants in order to better understand their experiences and motivations. I asked them to collect data in environments that were typical of their daily interactions with their friends and loved ones. I used careful examination of the discourse together with phonetic analysis to examine how linguistic resources were being deployed to make meaning in particular contexts and therefore working in that specific moment to construct each individual’s unique identity. The three individuals use resources that index characteristics and behaviors associated with masculine, feminine, and māhū identity, and in doing so, construct and project an identity that feels authentic to their experience and their conception of self. Because their experiences and identities are different from one another, they use a wide variety of linguistic resources in this pursuit. Furthermore, each individual’s use of linguistic resources changes as his or her motivations and targets change, showing that identity is not a single inherent entity but an everchanging, evergrowing thing made up of the many different facets and experiences of the individual. Language provides a window into that process. vi Table of Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................... iv Abstract .............................................................................................................................................................. vi Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................ vii List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................................... x List of Figures .................................................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Aims and motivations ............................................................................................................................ 2 1.3. Organization of the dissertation ........................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2 Style, Gender, and Language ....................................................................................................... 7 2.1. Style .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1.1. Audience-centered conceptions of style ...................................................................................... 7 2.1.2. Style in variationist sociolinguistics .............................................................................................. 9 2.1.3. Style in sociocultural linguistics ................................................................................................... 12 2.1.4. Relevant research programs ......................................................................................................... 13 2.2. Gender ................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.2.1. Fuzzy sex ........................................................................................................................................ 21 2.2.2. Fuzzy gender .................................................................................................................................. 22 2.2.3. Contemporary American gender ................................................................................................ 26 2.2.4. Social constructionist gender theory .......................................................................................... 27 2.2.5. Gender and sexuality in traditional Hawaiian culture and today ............................................ 29 2.2.6. Gender variation for individuals in Hawai‘i assigned female at birth.................................... 32 2.3. Language ................................................................................................................................................ 34 2.3.1. Language and gender .................................................................................................................... 34 2.3.2. Language in Hawai‘i ...................................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 3 Methods ........................................................................................................................................ 44 3.1. Ethnography ........................................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Trixie Mattel and Katya Dating
    UNHhhh ep 5: "Dating PART 2" with Trixie Mattel & Katya Zamolodchikova. UNHhhh ep 4: "Dating" with Trixie Mattel & Katya Zamolodchikova. UNHhhh ep 3: "Traveling" w/ Trixie Mattel & Katya Zamolodchikova. UNHhhh ep 2: "RDR8 Cast Advice" w/ Trixie Mattel & Katya Zamolodchikova. 1 day ago · Trixie and Katya are back with new episodes of UNHhhh Season 5 and they've got the trailer to prove it. Here's everything you need to know about Trixie and Katya. Trixie Mattel is the stage name of Brian Firkus, a drag queen, performer, comedian and music artist best known as a Season 7 contestant of RuPaul's Drag Race and the winner of All Stars Following the success she got thanks to the show, Trixie started presenting a web show with Katya, entitled "UNHhhh", on the WOWPresents' YouTube renuzap.podarokideal.ru later starred on their new show entitled . Jul 15, · Katya: Paint on a different one! Trixie Mattel: This is a window for you, Carolyn, to become the new hot girl in the office right under everyone’s noses. Because you watched a few makeup. Mar 27, · Ever since Katya Zamolodchikova returned to Twitter, fans have been anxiously awaiting to see if the drag star would say anything about her friend and former co-star Trixie Mattel’s win on. Mar 24, · — Trixie Mattel (@trixiemattel) December 20, Trixie hasn’t revealed much about her boyfriend. She protects him from social media users as well. Trixie Mattel Net Worth and TV shows. The drag queen, Trixie Mattel has an estimated net worth of $2 million. Trixie started performing drag in the year at LaCage NiteClub.
    [Show full text]
  • Variations in Language Use Across Gender: Biological Versus Sociological Theories
    UC Merced Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society Title Variations in Language Use across Gender: Biological versus Sociological Theories Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1q30w4z0 Journal Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 28(28) ISSN 1069-7977 Authors Bell, Courtney M. McCarthy, Philip M. McNamara, Danielle S. Publication Date 2006 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Variations in Language Use across Gender: Biological versus Sociological Theories Courtney M. Bell (cbell@ mail.psyc.memphis.edu Philip M. McCarthy ([email protected]) Danielle S. McNamara ([email protected]) Institute for Intelligent Systems University of Memphis Memphis, TN38152 Abstract West, 1975; West & Zimmerman, 1983) and overlap We examine gender differences in language use in light of women’s speech (Rosenblum, 1986) during conversations the biological and social construction theories of gender. than the reverse. On the other hand, other research The biological theory defines gender in terms of biological indicates no gender differences in interruptions (Aries, sex resulting in polarized and static language differences 1996; James & Clarke, 1993) or insignificant differences based on sex. The social constructionist theory of gender (Anderson & Leaper, 1998). However, potentially more assumes gender differences in language use depend on the context in which the interaction occurs. Gender is important than citing the differences, is positing possible contextually defined and fluid, predicting that males and explanations for why they might exist. We approach that females use a variety of linguistic strategies. We use a problem here by testing the biological and social qualitative linguistic approach to investigate gender constructionist theories (Bergvall, 1999; Coates & differences in language within a context of marital conflict.
    [Show full text]
  • Language and Gender Language and Gender Sexism in English
    Language and Gender Language and Gender Language and Gender Sexism in English The tendency to speak of people as cultural stereotypes of their gender ‘He said, She said’ video The ways in which men and women talk, and misunderstand each other 2 Sexism in English The English language reflects the power that men have historically held in many areas of life. Language reflects this social power by treating words to refer to women as marked, while unmarked words are those that refer first to men and also to both men and women. 3 1 Language and Gender Markedness Mankind Women 4 Markedness Poet Poetess 5 Markedness Actor Actress 6 2 Language and Gender Markedness Nurse Male nurse 7 Sexism in Language Why avoid sexism in language? Some people feel insulted by sexist language. Sexist language creates an image of a society where women have lower social and economic status than men. Using nonsexist language may change the way that users of English think about gender roles. 8 Sexism in Language Avoid ambiguity in gender identity or gender role by choosing nouns, pronouns, and adjectives that specifically describe people. Sexist bias can occur when pronouns are used carelessly, as when the masculine pronoun he is used to refer to both sexes or when the masculine or feminine pronoun is used exclusively to define roles by sex (e.g., “the nurse ... she”). The use of man as a generic noun or as an ending for an occupational title (e.g., policeman) can be ambiguous and may imply incorrectly that all persons in the group are male.
    [Show full text]
  • Woman‟S Image in Charlotte Perkins Gilman‟S, “The Yellow Wallpaper
    Woman‟s Image in Charlotte Perkins Gilman‟s, “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Fadia Faqir‟s, Pillars of Salt A Feminist Approach طٛسة اٌّشأة فً لظت حشبسٌٛث بٍشوٕز جٍّبْ "ٚسق اٌجذساْ اﻷطفش" ٚسٚاٌت فبدٌٗ فمٍش "أعّذة اٌٍّح" ِٓ ِٕظٛس ٔمذي ٔسٛي By Maria R. Alfadel Supervisor Professor Tawfiq Yousef A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master in English Language and its Literature Department of English Language and Literature Faculty of Arts Middle East University for Graduate Studies May, 2010 Authorization I, Maria De Lourdes R. Alfadel, authorize Middle East University for Graduate Studies to supply copies of my thesis to libraries or establishments or individuals upon request. Name: …………………………………………….. Signature: …………………………………………. Date: ………………………………………………. Thesis Committee Decision This thesis (Woman‟s Image in Charlotte Perkins Gilman‟s, “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Fadia Faqir‟s, Pillars of Salt) was successfully defended and approved on ………………………… Examination Committee Signature Dr. Riyadh Fayez Hussein ……………………………. Dr. Tawfiq Ibrahim Yousef ...…………………………. Dr. Sabar Sadoun Sultan ........………………………. i ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would like to express my sincerest gratitude and appreciation to my supervisor, Professor Tawfiq Yousef for his generous support, guidance, and invaluable suggestions throughout every single phase of this undertaking. I have enjoyed working with him and learning from him as he guided me toward the completion and finalization of this thesis. I would also like to thank Professor Riyadh Hussein, the head of the Department of English Language and Literature and all the staff at Middle East University for Graduate Studies for patiently answering all my questions as I embarked on this project. Finally, special thanks goes to the committee members for their review and helpful feedback.
    [Show full text]
  • GENDER Zeitschrift Für Geschlecht, Kultur Und Gesellschaft
    GENDER Zeitschrift für Geschlecht, Kultur und Gesellschaft Heft 3 5. Jahrgang 2013 ISSN 1868-7245 00-Gender3-13_001_002.indd-Gender3-13_001_002.indd 3 117.09.20137.09.2013 220:45:270:45:27 00-Gender3-13_001_002.indd-Gender3-13_001_002.indd 4 117.09.20137.09.2013 220:45:530:45:53 Inhalt 5. Jahrgang 2013 • Heft 3 GENDER Zeitschrift für Geschlecht, Kultur und Gesellschaft Gender in der psychologischen Forschung Ursula Kessels, Vorwort 7 Sigrid Metz-Göckel Schwerpunkt Evelyn C. Ferstl, Sprache und Geschlecht: Wie quantitative 9 Anelis Kaiser Methoden aus der Experimental- und Neuropsychologie einen Beitrag zur Geschlechterforschung leisten können Irena D. Ebert, Positionsartikel zum Forschungsprogramm 26 Melanie C. Steffens Explizite und implizite geschlechterbezogene Kognitionen heute Andrea E. Abele Berufserfolg von Frauen und Männern im 41 Vergleich. Warum entwickelt sich die „Schere“ immer noch auseinander? Christine Eckert, Was Mädchen schadet, muss für Jungen noch 60 Margarete Imhof lange nicht schädlich sein: die Leseleistung von Jungen unter Stereotype Threat Franziska Moser, Subtile und direkte Mechanismen der sozialen 77 Bettina Hannover, Konstruktion von Geschlecht in Schulbüchern. Judith Becker Vorstellung eines Kategoriensystems zur Analyse der Geschlechter(un)gerechtigkeit von Texten und Bildern Offener Teil Mona Motakef, Ambivalente Praxen der (Re-)Produktion. 94 Sabine Wöhlke Fürsorge, Bioökonomie und Geschlecht in der Lebendorganspende Andreas Stückler Auf dem Weg zu einer hegemonialen Weiblich- 114 keit? Geschlecht, Wettbewerb und die Dialektik der Gleichstellung GENDER Heft 3 | 2013, S. 3–4 001-Gender3-13_Inhalt_003-004.indd1-Gender3-13_Inhalt_003-004.indd 3 330.09.20130.09.2013 116:43:596:43:59 4 Inhalt Aus Forschung, Politik & Praxis Oxana Krasilnikova Fokus Russland: „Gesellschaftliche Gleichstel- 131 lung der Geschlechter ist eine Utopie“.
    [Show full text]
  • Language and Gender: Differences and Similarities
    2013 International Conference on Advances in Social Science, Humanities, and Management (ASSHM 2013) Language and Gender: Differences and Similarities Lihong Gu Foreign Language Teaching Department, Hebei Finance University No.3188, Hengxiang St. Baoding, Hebei Province, China Abstract gender differences and similarities. Firstly, the previous researches into gender differences are reviewed, then, The relationship between gender and language has been some problems existing in research methodology and studied with main focus on differences between the research findings are pointed out, and finally some language of male and female from different angles with suggestions are put forward that researchers should pay different methodologies. The research findings lay more attention to the similarities between the language different emphasis on the differences, but there are of male and female, the similarities play the same some problems in the researches. This paper will review important part as differences in research. the previous researches into gender differences, then point out the problems existing in methodology and 2. Review of the researches into gender and research findings, and finally propose that researchers language should pay more attention to the similarities between the language of both genders, the similarities play the 2.1. The Beginning of the research same important part as well as differences. Early in the 1970s, linguists, psychologists began to Keywords: language, gender, differences, similarities attach great importance to differences between the language of male and female, the representatives were Key, Lakoff and Thorne. The mainstream views 1. Introduction include the deficit theory by Lakoff (1975), who “Language and gender” refers to the relationship considers that female language is inferior to male between the language of male and female.
    [Show full text]
  • Women's Language
    Women’s language: a struggle to overcome inequality* Sergio Bolaños Cuellar [email protected] Universidad Nacional de Colombia Departamento de Lingüística Abstract This paper attempts to show that the intellectual construct women’s language is entirely justified on a political, ideological, and economic basis that stresses the fact that women have historically been victims of overt (and covert) discrimination and exploitation in our society. Linguistically speaking, however, a women’s language seems not to exist in traditional strict terms, but rather as a rhetorical term used in the form of a synecdoche. Despite their incompleteness, two attempts of characterizing truly women languages, Nu Shu and Láadan, are discussed, underlining and recognizing their legitimate symbolic value as equalizing manoeuvres. Women have resorted to more subtle linguistic means to emerge as visible agents in our society. Linguistic resources go from a passive acceptance of the traditional all-inclusive generic masculine forms, through the equalizing use of both masculine and feminine markers, to the most progressive, liberal and controversial strategies of using feminizing forms, i.e. all-inclusive generic feminine forms. Women’s struggle to overcome inequity and inequality is a legitimate endeavour which is leaving visible linguistic traces in our languages. Women are changing languages around the world. Key words: Women’s language, Nu Shu, Láadan, inclusive linguistic masculine forms, masculine and feminine linguistic forms, inclusive feminine linguistic forms. 1. Women’s language Robin Lakoff’s seminal book Language and Women’s Place (1975) opened a new strand in linguistic studies when she called the attention to a traditionally * This paper is the result of research I had the opportunity to do during the seminar I attended on Language, Gender, and Culture under the guidance of Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Music Preview
    JACKSONVILLE NING! OPE entertaining u newspaper change your free weekly guide to entertainment and more | february 15-21, 2007 | www.eujacksonville.com life in 2007 2 february 15-21, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper table of contents cover photo of Paul Paxton by: Dennis Ho feature NASCAR Media Day ............................................................................PAGES 16-17 Local Music Preview ...........................................................................PAGES 18-24 movies Breach (movie review) .................................................................................PAGE 6 Movies In Theatres This Week .................................................................PAGES 6-9 Seen, Heard, Noted & Quoted .......................................................................PAGE 7 Hannibal Rising (movie review) ....................................................................PAGE 8 The Last Sin Eater (movie review) ................................................................PAGE 9 Campus Movie Fest (Jacksonville University) ..............................................PAGE 10 Underground Film Series (MOCA) ...............................................................PAGE 10 at home The Science Of Sleep (DVD review) ...........................................................PAGE 12 Grammy Awards (TV Review) .....................................................................PAGE 13 Video Games .............................................................................................PAGE 14 food
    [Show full text]
  • PHIL WOODS NEA Jazz Master (2007)
    Funding for the Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program NEA Jazz Master interview was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. PHIL WOODS NEA Jazz Master (2007) Interviewee: Phil Woods (November 2, 1931 - ) Interviewer: Marty Nau and engineered by Ken Kimery Date: June 22-23, 2010 Repository: Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution Description: Transcript, 66 pp. Marty Nau [MN]: Okay, this is Marty Nau here with the Smithsonian interviewing Phil Woods, a certain dream of mine come true. And Phil for the national record … Phil Woods [PW]: Yes, sir. [MN]: … for the Smithsonian they’d like to have you state your full name. [PW]: Gene Quill [laughs]. No, I’m, I’m Phil Woods. I was born in uh 1931. Uh, November second, which means today I’m 78 but I’m very happy to say I have the body of a 77-year-old man. [MN]: I noticed that immediately. [PW]: I was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. I have one brother, seven years older. And uh, any other facts you’d like to have? [MN]: Well, uh could you talk about your parents? [PW]: My parents. Well, my dad was reported to be a violin player when he was a kid. Um, music was very important in our family. My mom loved music. Uh [mumbles] there were four or five sisters and on my father’s side there was an uncle who played saxophone and one of my mother’s sister’s husbands played saxophone and that’s how I, I was given the sax in the will when he died.
    [Show full text]
  • Gender and Language Use
    GENDER AND LANGUAGE USE OLeh: Rahmi (The Lecturer of Dakwah and Communication Faculty, UIN Ar-Raniry Darussalam Banda Aceh) Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Gender issue which is a social construction according to culture and belief has been studied in language use since 1970s. When a language is expressed, it is considered that men and women use different expressions. There are some theories that have been proposed related to this concern such as the Deficit Theory, the Dominance Theory, the Radical Theory, the Difference Theory and the Reformist Theory. Gender in language use which is one of discussions in pragmatics consists of some terminologies that are used to represent men and women directly in a language, those are Grammatical Gender, Lexical Gender, Referential Gender and Social Gender. Furthermore, lots of stereotypes found express more negative opinions related to the language of women compared to men. Some factors affect gendered use of linguistic varieties like work and marriage opportunities, industrialization and urbanization, and social network. In education in particular, three areas important to be focused on, those are subject matter, teaching and learning process and classroom material. ABSTRAK Isu gender yang merupakan sebuah konstruksi sosial dalam suatu budaya dan kebudayaan tertentu telah dipelajari dalam penggunaan bahasa sejak tahun 1970an. Ketika bahasa dieekspresikan, maka diyakini bahwa laki-laki dan perempuan menggunakan bahasa yang berbeda. Ada beberapa teori yang dikembangkan yang berkenaan dengan isu tersebut, diantaranya the Deficit Theory, the Dominance Theory, the Radical Theory, the Difference Theory and the Reformist Theory. Gender dalam penggunaan bahasa yang sering didiskusikan dalam studi pragmatic memiliki beberapa istilah yang menunjukkan perbedaan penggunaan bahasa pria dan wanita secara langsung diantaranya Grammatical Gender, Lexical Gender, Referential Gender and Social Gender.
    [Show full text]
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Culture/ Community
    California State University, San Bernardino CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations Office of aduateGr Studies 6-2015 Exploring Cultural and Linguistic Aspects within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth Community Justine Carrillo California State University - San Bernardino Julie Marie Houston California State University - San Bernardino Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd Part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, and the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation Carrillo, Justine and Houston, Julie Marie, "Exploring Cultural and Linguistic Aspects within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth Community" (2015). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 170. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/170 This Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Office of aduateGr Studies at CSUSB ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CSUSB ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EXPLORING CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC ASPECTS WITHIN THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER YOUTH COMMUNITY A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Social Work by Julie Marie Houston Justine Carrillo June 2015 EXPLORING CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC ASPECTS WITHIN THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER YOUTH COMMUNITY A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino by Julie Marie Houston Justine Carrillo June 2015 Approved by: Dr. Rosemary McCaslin, Faculty Supervisor, Social Work Dr. Rosemary McCaslin, M.S.W.
    [Show full text]
  • Identity in Flux: Gender Norms and the English Language in Today’S Ukraine
    W&M ScholarWorks Undergraduate Honors Theses Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 4-2019 Identity in Flux: Gender Norms and the English Language in Today’s Ukraine Melanie Carter Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses Part of the Adult and Continuing Education Commons, Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, First and Second Language Acquisition Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Language and Literacy Education Commons, Modern Languages Commons, Other Film and Media Studies Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Slavic Languages and Societies Commons, and the Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies Commons Recommended Citation Carter, Melanie, "Identity in Flux: Gender Norms and the English Language in Today’s Ukraine" (2019). Undergraduate Honors Theses. Paper 1277. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/1277 This Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 2 Abstract Using two concepts, cultural capital and gender as a social practice, this thesis explores intersections of the English language and gender norms and attitudes in the identity of young people in today’s Ukraine. Unlike many previous studies that have focused primarily on university students or school-age children and often used quantitative methods, this thesis offers qualitative analysis of the interviews I conducted with adults, who chose to continue to learn English. The major findings are that there are two main intersections of language and gender in Ukraine.
    [Show full text]