Bias In Language

Numerous studies have investigated the perpetuation of sex bias reflected on the sexist language use, and how people perceive and judge gender-based language. Murdock and Forsyth (1985) conducted two studies to examine people’s responses to gender-biased language empirically. Participants in both studies were from evening classes at a large urban university, which not only included a large proportion of full-time students, but also included students with other occupations such as “secretaries, pharmacists, nurses, keypunch operators, homemakers, musicians, sales clerks, executives, and attorneys” (Murdock and Forsyth, 1985, p41). In the first Study, 139 respondents age ranging from 17 to 47 with a mean age of 23 were studied, which males and …show more content…
In order to facilitate gender equality in society, language planning is worth to be considered. As Bate stated “It is clear that speakers can make conscious changes in their language habits if they have information, interpersonal relationships, and professional situations which support language change” (Bate, 1978, p. 148). Modification and reform can be applied as language planning strategies. For example, by reducing/eliminating the use of “man” or “he” and replacing the term with the generic such as person/people and individual(s) instead; when addressing persons, using Ms instead of Miss or Mrs without distinguishing their marital status solves part of the gender discrimination problem. Another approach for language reform includes replacing forms that neglect women/men by employing stereotypical roles, such as “chairman with chairperson, salesman with salesperson, fireman with …show more content…
that research has investigated and raises many issues on the differences between gender and language use that sociolinguists have been interested in and have continued to find explanations, evidence and solutions for their use. In addition to analyzing three approaches to explaining the differences in linguistic behavior between males and females, the implications for language planning are evaluated. Given the different relationships between language and gender within society, how gender is constructed in social practice, how gender intertwines with other social factors such as identity, age, education, community of practice, race, social class, and sexual orientation have been considered an interesting and fertile field of research for researchers during recent years and for years to come (Eckert &