Sexism in language

Abstract

This thesis aims at upholding the various forms of sexism that exist within languages. Over the years sexism has been weaved into the language system so subtly that people end up submitting to the sexist views without even realizing it. Many a time have people laughed at jokes that are sexist and used proverbs such as “A woman has the shape of an angel, the heart of a snake, and the brains of an ass.” Considering a nurse to be only female and an astronaut to be male is something quite common. Even in discourse females interrupt less in conversations and often fail to gain the floor in a mixed sex conversation. Thus this thesis aims at upholding only the obvious that people usually fail to see. It tries to show the different levels at which sexism exist in the language system (Word, phrases and discourse).