Unit 12 Gender Bias in Language课文翻译综合教程一

Unit 12 Gender Bias in Language

Language is a very powerful element. It is the most common method of communication. Yet

it is often misunderstood and misinterpreted, for language is a very complicated mechanism with a

great deal of nuance. There are times when in conversation with another individual, that we must

take into account the person’s linguistic genealogy. There are people who use language that would

be considered prejudicial or biased in use. But the question that is raised is in regard to language

usage: Is language the cause of the bias or is it reflective of the preexisting bias that the user holds?

There are those who believe that the language that we use in day-to-day conversation is biased in

and of itself. They feel that the term

carriers. Then there are those who feel that language is a reflection of the prejudices that people

have within themselves. That is to say, the words that people choose to use in conversation denote

the bias that they harbor within their own existence.

There are words in the English language that are existing or have existed (some of them have

changed

with

the

new

wave

of

“political

correctness”

coming

about)

that

have

inherently

been

sexually biased against women. For example, the person who investigates reported complaints (as

from consumers or students), reports findings, and helps to achieve fair and impartial settlements

is ombudsman (Merriam-Webster Dictionary), but ombudsperson here at Indiana State University.

This is an example of the gender bias that exists in the English language. The language is arranged

so

that

men

are

identified

with

exalted

positions,

and

women

are

identified

with

more

service-oriented

positions

in

which

they

are

being

dominated

and

instructed

by

men.

So

the

language used to convey this type of male supremacy is generally reflecting the honored position

of

the

male

and

the

subservience

of

the

female.

Even

in

relationships,

the

male

in

the

home

is

often referred to as the “man of the house,” even if it is a 4

-year-old child. It is highly insulting to

say that a 4-year-old male, based solely on his gender, is more qualified and capable of conducting

the business and affairs of the home than his possibly well-educated, highly intellectual mother.

There is a definite disparity in that situation.

In American culture, a woman is

valued for the attractiveness of her body, while a man is

valued for his physical strength and his achievements. Even in the example of word pairs the bias

is evident. The masculine word is put before the feminine word, as in the examples of Mr. and

Mrs., his and hers, boys and girls, men and women, kings and queens, brothers and sisters, guys

and dolls, and host and hostess. This shows that the usage of many of the English words is also

what contributes to the bias present in the English language.

Alleen Pace

Nilsenn

notes

that

there

are

instances

when

women

are

seen

as

passive

while

men are active and bring things into being. She uses the example of the wedding ceremony. In the

beginning of the ceremony, the father is asked who gives the bride away and he answers, “I do.” It

is at this point that Nilsen argues that the gender bias comes into play. The traditional concept of

the bride as something to be handed from one man (the father) to another man (the husband-to-be)

is

perpetuated.

Another

example

is

in

the

instance

of

sexual

relationships.

The

women

become