Language as a Looking Glass: A Glimpse at How Proverbs Reflect Gender Bias

Monika Ciesielkiewicz^1,

¹Villanueva-Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Cite this paper:
Monika Ciesielkiewicz. Language as a Looking Glass: A Glimpse at How Proverbs Reflect Gender Bias. Journal of Linguistics and Literature. 2019; 3(2):45-50. doi: 10.12691/jll-3-2-2

Abstract

Proverbs reflect common and popular knowledge and are an outcome of shared beliefs, assumptions and experiences. As language changes over time, proverbs change and new ones are added, however, it seems that it occurs at a slower pace. This paper analyzes proverbs that reflect many stereotypical perceptions about women and men. These are just a few of many examples of such assumptions that function in different cultures and that are passed from generation to generation. Until recently these have not been questioned, however with the advent of feminist linguistics many unjust stereotypes about women were unveiled and challenged. However, it requires well-informed language users to stop employing the expressions through conscious linguistic choices.

Keywords:
feminist linguistics proverbs gender bias gender stereotypes gender perceptions

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References:

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