Language & Gender

Before Mr. Robertson’s lecture or read the articles I had never really thought about why or how the different genders use language in different ways. I passively noticed differences in the ways men and women would speak but I thought that was just the world is and never questioned where these differences came from. I really never realized that society shapes us to act a certain way depending on our gender and that it has such a large influence that it even affects the way we talk. I grew up with three sisters and I never noticed differences in the way my parents would treat my sisters. However, after reading the articles and listening to Mr. Robertson’s lecture I have realized that there is no way they could have completely escaped gendered language and expectations even though my parents did not put those standards on them.

In the same way that I was passive in not questioning the disparities in the use of language by the different genders, I never questioned the fact that I was treated the same and talked the same as my sisters by my parents. When I recently talked to my mom, I found out that she is actively trying to change the system by teaching my youngest sister that it is okay to be rowdy, proud of her accomplishments and to not sell herself short. After reading the articles I realized why my mom is doing this. Bei Yu talks in his article about women in Congress often talk and write about their communities and group projects while men often talk about their accomplishments and individual pursuits. In addition, women tend to use “my” and emphasize teamwork while men tend to use “I” and focus on their personal role. This is a speech and writing pattern that according to Yu, is already starting to develop by the first few years of elementary school. When Mr. Robertson mentioned these same language patterns in his lecture and read the short stories, I could easily identify which gender had written which story.

My mom, who less than two years ago was appointed to be the head of private banking in Finland for a bank, told me that some of the people at her workplace started disliking her when she rose to a higher position. This obviously made me upset for my mom but I admire her for the work she has done. However, Mr. Robertson’s lecture and the article by Bei Yu gives me a new appreciation for her. What is it like to be a woman in a position of power when the language you have been taught to use is working against you?