GEC E5-Gender and Society

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MODULE 3-Gender – fair Language

Name: TARROZA, LORRAINE S. Program: BSED-SOCIAL

STUDIES 2F

Pre-work for the Chapter

Observe yourself for a day and answer the following questions:

1. How do you speak to your female friend and how do you speak to your male friends?
Do you shift in tone or word choice?

I spoke to my female friend in my freestyle way. It is okay for the both of us because we
both know in each other that we are comfortable in that approach plus ever since we
know each other too much so it's just normal for us. The way I spoke to my male friends
is also the same on how I spoke to my female friends, the reason also was the same
plus the fact that my male friend is a member of LGBTQIA+ community. He on the other
hand is also like us, he spoke how we spoke and all of us are comfortable in that matter.

2. How do you use communication to assert yourself ideas? How do you think people of
the other gender would use language to assert themselves? Would it be the same or
different? Why and why not?

I use communication to assert my own ideas in a very careful and effective way to avoid
misunderstanding and hard feelings. I think others is like me also in terms of asserting
their ideas. I think some of them are using language very wisely, carefully and
effectively to avoid harm feelings and misinterpretation too. Plus the fact that we are all
different in every way so we must pick the right words or language we will use to avoid
being insensitive and disrespect to others' differences.

3. How do you describe feminine speech? How about masculine speech?

Women with feminine speech patterns, for example, use of tag questions, modals,
intensifiers, and numeral approximations which seen as less confident, less assertive,
and less believable than women with masculine speech patterns. The masculine speach is
full of declarative statements. It is objective and “to the point” and focus on facts more than
feelings. It is direct, more forceful kind of speech sounds confident, competent and
authoritative. It focus on accomplishing goals: being assertive, establishing status and power,
solve problems for others, talk to convey information or accomplish goals (not just to have a
conversation.)

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4. How differently do men from older generation speak as compared to women from
generations speak as compared to women from their generation? How is it different
from how you and your friends speak today?

Men of older generation is very respectful and gentleman in their words and language.
They treated and talked to women in a well-mannered and nice way. They are very
sensitive in the choice of words they will use and it should must be always in
accordance to the perspective of society and to it's social norms in their times. But today
it is now very differ and I can say that it is due to modernization or to the influence of
technological advancement. Today in our generation they speak vulgar words or what
they called slang language and like us, both man and woman in its nature, it easily
adapt those influence and changes. Both can be in a masculine or feminine speech
because of being equal in terms of gender roles.

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Guide Questions

1. Why is language important?

Language is a vital part of human connection. Although all species have their ways of
communicating, humans are the only ones that have mastered cognitive language
communication. Language allows us to share our ideas, thoughts, and feelings with others.
It has the power to build societies, but also tear them down. Language helps us express our
feelings and thoughts — this is unique to our because it is a way to express unique ideas
and customs within different cultures and societies. Language is intrinsic to the expression
of culture. As a means of communicating values, beliefs and customs, it has an important
social function and fosters feelings of group identity and solidarity. It is the means by
which culture and its traditions and shared values may be conveyed and preserved.
Language is considered as an important tool that helps to create cultural ties, friendships,
and relationships. It is a medium used to offer shape to the thoughts, ideas and emotions
depending upon the perception of reality and portray it to others in a manner that the
people listening can understand and relate to them. The importance of language is that
knowledge helps the speaker to reach out for his dreams. It is a fact that language is
knowledge and knowledge is indispensable. It is a key factor for viable communication and
interaction processes because now it is possible to share and exchange ideas to and from
any part of the world.

2. What is sexist language?

Is a language that unnecessarily identifies gender and denotes a single sex when the
information being conveyed pertains equally to either or both sexes. Sexist language is a
tool that reinforces unequal gender relations through sex-role stereotypes,
microaggressions, and sexual harassment, or to perpetuate stereotypes. It can be
subtle messages that reinforce unfair relation, such as how “men cannot take care
of children” or “women cannot be engineers” which may impact how one views his
or her capabilities.

3. In what ways can language be used to discriminate?

Language discrimination occurs when a person is treated differently because of her native
language or other characteristics of her language skills. For example, an employee may be
experiencing language discrimination if the workplace has a “speak-English-only” policy
but her primary language is one other than English.

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How can name give power to ideas?
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ACTIVITY

Accomplish the following task.

A. Find texts which are supposed to be gender neutral. For instance, you can look for
laws, religious texts, or even local textbooks. Examine these texts and mark specific
parts that violate gender-fair language. After having identified the discrimatory parts,
provide gender-fair edits or revisions. Pick five samples which you can present.

1. The use of the generic masculine in our current usage are: man person, individual
mankind, layman, working men or workmen, forefather and early man are subsuming in
all humanity terms.

*Revisions: instead of "man person" and "individual mankind" use human being or human,
instead of "layman" use layperson or non-professional, instead of "working men" or
"workmen" use workers or wage earners, instead of "forefather" use ancestor and instead of
"early man" use early people or early human beings.

2. When a reporter covers a controversial story, he has a responsibility to present both sides of
the issue.

*Revision: When a reporter covers a controversial story, they have a responsibility to present
both sides of the issue.

3. Anchorman, businessman or chairman are terms that ends in man in order to refer the
functions that may be performed by individuals of either sex.

*Revisions: instead of "anchorman" use anchorperson, instead of "businessman use business

owner or business executive and instead of "chairman" use chairperson.

4. Commission on Elections Resolution No. 2997

Section 1. Certificate of Candidacy -

a) No person shall be elected President, Vice-President, Senator, Member of

the House Representative, provincial, city or municipal official unless he files
a certificate of candidacy in the form prescribed by the Commission and
within the period fixed herein.
b) No person shall be eligible for more than one office to be filled in the same
election. If he files a certificate of candidacy for more than one office, he

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shall not be eligible for either. However, before the expiration of the period
for the filing of certificate of candidacy, he may declare under oath the
office for which he desires to be eligible and cancel the certificate of
candidacy for the other office or offices.
c) A person who has filed a certificate of candidacy may, prior to the election,
withdraw the same by submitting to the office concerned a written
declaration of withdrawal under oath. The filing of withdrawal of certificate
of candidacy shall not affect whatever civil, criminal or administrative
liabilities which a candidate may have incurred.

*Revisions:

Commission on Elections Resolution No. 2997

Section 1. Certificate of Candidacy -

a) No person shall be elected President, Vice-President, Senator, Member of the

House Representative, provincial, city or municipal official unless that files a
certificate of candidacy in the form prescribed by the Commission and within the
period fixed herein.
b) No person shall be eligible for more than one office to be filled in the same
election. Anyone who files a certificate of candidacy for more than one office shall
not be eligible for either. However, before the expiration of the period for the filing
of certificate of candidacy, the candidate may declare under oath the office for
which eligibility is desired and cancel the certificate of candidacy for the other
office or offices.
c) A person who has filed a certificate of candidacy may, prior to the election,
withdraw the same by submitting to the office concerned a written declaration of
withdrawal under oath. The filing of withdrawal of certificate of candidacy shall not
affect whatever civil, criminal or administrative liabilities which a candidate may
have incurred.

5. In a general statement, for example, "Man are vulnerable and rational being."

*Revisions: In a general statement, it should add women. For example: "Women and men are
rational and vulnerable."

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B. Research the lyrics of your favorite rap song or song that speaks to about
women. How are women portrayed in this song? What words are used to describe
men and women? What verbs are used to describe them? If there is a music
video, how are men and women portrayed? How would you write a more gender-
fair version of this song? Does it still work?

Women portrayed in this song as tough and brave even though our society sees women as
fragile and weak. It portrayed women strong like a man too and no one should think any
different regardless on what gender we have.

Words are used to describe women can be seen in the following lyrics.

"Hold up, no you didn't bow, bow

I ain't the chick to walk behind you 'round town

Just 'cause you're packin', packin', whoop, down south

That don't mean I'm ever gonna take it lying down, baby, oh"

"I'm a machine when I do it

I'll be catching fire, gasoline when I do it

Just 'cause you're packin', packin', whoop, down south

That don't mean I'm ever gonna take it lying down"

"Baby, you're the man

But I got the, I got the, I got the power

You make rain

But I make it, I make it, I make it shower

You should know, I'm the one who's in control

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I'll let you come take the wheel, long as you don't forget"

"Who got the power?

I got the, I got the power

I got the, I got the power

I got the, I got the power

Hold up!"

In the music video, women portrayed having a "power" no matter how girly a women are, what
of color of their skin they have or whatever personality they have. They showed girl
empowering and gender equality - that not only man should dominated in terms of "power".

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