Writing about a topical language issue Language and Gender Thursday 4th February 2021 Learning purposes

• To recap language and gender theories/concepts • To consider real world examples in relation to Language and Gender • To interpret the views and opinions of a gender linguist

Recap to previous learning learning Ø On the coming slides…. Ø Exploration into topical language issues (gender/power/technology) Ø Developing ability to write effectively, taking into consideration the audience and genre. Starter – Recap

1. The terms Mr and Mrs are an example of lexical ______? 2. What is ‘male nurse’ an example of? 3. Write three words that could still show gender bias? 4. Which noun did The Washington Post article say could be used differently to other gender marked terms? 5. Which suffixes can be use to mark terms? 6. Which literary figures used gender marked terms? 7. Define amelioration 8. Define pejoration 9. Name two words that have undergone pejoration. 10. Which language has adopted a gender neutral pronoun? Recap – Is the English language sexist?

Watch the video and add to your notes from last week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uaBwAe2BhY Research

Name as many of the colours as possible.

Lakoff (1975)

“It is a widely held belief that women have larger colour vocabularies than do men. For example, Robin Lakoff (1975) states this as a fact and suggests as an explanation the observation that in this society women spend much more of their time on colour-related activities such as choosing clothes than men do” The Deficit Model – Why might we be sceptical about Lakoff’s concept? Social status Do we think that speech is more important to women than men – speech can be taken as an indicator of social class, so women make more effort to conform to standard usage in an effort to demonstrate their respectability.

Society’s expectations of women Society expects ‘better’ behaviour from women than men. ,This begins in childhood when boys’ misbehaviour is tolerated more than girls’

Lakoff states that ‘If a little girl ‘talks rough’ like a boy, she will be ostracised, scolded or made fun of’.

Society also expects women to play the dominant role in child rearing, and this includes providing children with models of ‘correct’ speech for them to imitate. Read the article: Researchers have found a major problem with ‘The Little Mermaid’ and other Disney movies – The Washington Post Make notes in response to the following questions:

1. In which Disney films do women speak as much as, or more than the men? What are the ratios/percentages? 2. Write down the three films (that you will be most likely to remember) where men speak more than women. 3. For what reasons do the newer films have more male speech? 4. What is the trend regarding compliments received in Disney films over time? 5. How can we link this research to Language and Gender? Gender in the Music Industry

Do you think Hip-Hop / Rap is misogynistic?

Analyse the lines below:

Robin Thicke: “I know you want it, you’re a good girl” Jay Z: “I got 99 problems and a bitch ain't one” Kanye West: “Now I ain’t sayin’ she’s a gold digger” Chris Brown: “these hoes ain’t loyal” Gender in the Music Industry

• You will be given a selection of lyrics. Your job is to analyse them and comment on how they display gender asymmetry.

• Try to link your ideas to theory.

• We will then discuss the findings. "Loyal" (feat. Lil Wayne, Tyga) [Verse 1 — Lil Wayne:]

I wasn't born last night I know these hoes ain't right But you was blowing up her phone last night But she ain't have her ringer nor her ring on last night, oh, that's that nerve Why give a bitch your heart When she rather have a purse? You know how the game goes She be mine by half time.

I’m the shit, oh, that’s that nerve You all about her, and she all about hers Birdman Junior in this bitch, no flamingos done did everything but trust these hoes. “Blurred Lines” (Robin Thicke)

Ok, now he was close Tried to domesticate you But you're an animal Baby, it's in your nature Just let me liberate you You don't need no papers That man is not your maker And that's why I'm gon' take a [Hook - Robin Thicke:] Good girl I know you want it I know you want it I know you want it You're a good girl Can't let it get past me You're far from plastic Talk about getting blasted. “If I Were a Boy” (Beyonce)

If I were a boy I think I could understand How it feels to love a girl I swear I'd be a better man I'd listen to her Cause I know how it hurts When you lose the one you wanted Cause he's taken you for granted And everything you had got destroyed If I were a boy I would turn off my phone Tell everyone it's broken So they'd think that I was sleepin' alone I'd put myself first And make the rules as I go Cause I'd know that she'd be faithful Waitin' for me to come home Dear Future Husband (Meghan Trainor)

Dear future husband Here's a few things You'll need to know if you wanna be My one and only all my life Take me on a date I deserve a break And don't forget the flowers every anniversary 'Cause if you'll treat me right I'll be the perfect wife Buying groceries Buy-buying what you need You got that nine to five But, baby, so do I So don't be thinking I'll be home and baking apple pies I never learned to cook But I can write a hook You gotta know how to treat me like a lady Even when I'm acting crazy Tell me everything's alright Independent work https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000l8pf

Listen to the following Radio 4 programme. Make notes responding to the six questions on the worksheet (Year 12 Words Used about Women questions).

These notes should then be emailed to me - [email protected]