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Language and Sexism

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Language and Sexism
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Sara Mills
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:192
Dimensions(mm): Height 227,Width 151
Category/GenreSociolinguistics
ISBN/Barcode 9780521001748
ClassificationsDewey:306.44
Audience
Tertiary Education (US: College)
General
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 25 September 2008
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

The issue of sexist language has been hotly debated within feminist circles since the 1960s. Previous books have tended to regard sexism in language as easy to identify and have suggested solutions to overcome and counter sexism. Sara Mills takes a fresh and more critical look at sexism in language, and argues that even in feminist circles it has become a problematic concept. Drawing on conversational and textual data collected over the last ten years, and with reference to recent research carried out in a range of different academic disciplines, Mills suggests that there are two forms of sexism - overt and indirect. Overt sexism is clear and unambiguous, while indirect sexism is based on pragmatics and the meaning and interpretation of utterances. Indirect sexism is extremely common and we therefore need new ways to challenge and analyse its usage in language.

Author Biography

Sara Mills is a Research Professor in Linguistics in the English Department at Sheffield Hallam University. Her recent publications include Gender and Colonial Space (2004) and Gender and Politeness (Cambridge, 2003).

Reviews

'... very useful as a discussion and evaluation of the past and present work on linguistic sexism in English, anti-sexist reform and its public reception.' Journal of Sociolinguistics