Development and Validation of an Instrument to Measure Attitudes Toward Sexist/Nonsexist Language (original) (raw)
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the influence of respondents'gender and social affiliations on their willingness to accept gender-inclusive language reforms. Study 1 builds upon those earlier surveys by adapting their questions for use in face-to-face mterviews. Factors explored in Studv 1 included interviewees'gender and age cohort and the situational variable of interviewer gender. Results showed that women were more concerned about sexist language than men, more likely to evaluate it negatively, and likely to use more gender-inclusive methods to avoid it Older subjects were more attentive to gender-exclusive language than current college students. Interviewer gender also exerted effects such that Jemale interviewers elicited more negative attitudes toward gender-exclusive language than did male interviewers. Young men interviewed by males reported using fewest gender-inclusive constructions, while older females interviewed by women used the most. Study 2 demonstrated the effect of psychological gender role types on attitudes toward gender-inclusive language. Androgynous individuals reported using more methods to avoid gender-exclusive reference than did either gender-neutral or instrumental (traditionally masculine) participants. Implications for diffusing gender-inclusive language reform are discussed.
Sexism and Attitudes Toward Gender-Neutral Language
Swiss Journal of Psychology, 2012
We examined the relationships between three forms of sexism (Modern, Benevolent and Hostile) and two components of attitudes toward gender-neutral language (attitudes toward gender-related language reforms and recognition of sexist language) across different contexts. A questionnaire study (N = 446) was conducted among students in the United Kingdom and in two regions (French-and German-speaking) of Switzerland. While we generally hypothesized all forms of sexism to be related to negative attitudes toward gender-neutral language, attitudes were expected to be more positive and less related to sexist beliefs in a context where gender-neutral language is firmly established (the UK), compared to contexts where the use of such language is only recent (the German-speaking part of Switzerland) or still scarce (the Frenchspeaking part of Switzerland). We found that across all contexts modern and hostile sexist beliefs were indeed related to negative attitudes toward gender-related language reforms while, intriguingly, benevolent sexist beliefs were related to positive attitudes in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Recognition of sexist language was significantly related to Modern Sexism only. Finally, British students were found to express more positive attitudes toward gender-neutral language (both components) than Swiss students.
Attitudes Toward Women Mediate the Gender Effect on Attitudes Toward Sexist Language
Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2004
Studies of attitudes toward sexist language have consistently revealed a gender gap, with women considerably more supportive of inclusive language than men. The present study investigated this gender gap in the presence of "attitudes toward women," a potential mediator variable. Participants were a convenience sample of 18-to 20-year-old college students (N = 278). Most were European American/White (87%) women (60%). Data were collected using the Modern Sexism Scale, Neosexism Scale, Attitudes Toward Women Scale, and Inventory of Attitudes Toward Sexist/Nonsexist Language-General. The customary gender gap in attitudes toward sexist language was found in this sample. Regression tests of mediation, however, revealed that when measures of attitudes toward women were included in the analysis, the gender effect diminished by as much as 61% (p < .01). These findings provide empirical evidence of a link between attitudes toward sexist language and the cultural construct, attitudes toward women.
Language as an Agent of Change: Promoting Gender Fairness
Technium Social Sciences Journal, 2024
This research explores the complex dynamics of gendered language usage in an effort to provide guidance for language-based initiatives that advance gender equality. The study includes a number of goals, such as determining how frequently gendered words are used, analyzing inclusive language policies' effectiveness and presence, learning about respondents' opinions about gendered language, and finding barriers to the adoption of gender-inclusive terminology. The researcher used a Likert scale to analyze the findings after conducting a quantitative survey with 118 students from the City College of Calamba's Arts and Sciences Department. The results show that respondents were mostly in agreement with the negative effects of gendered language in media and advertising, as well as the difficulties in promoting gender-neutral language, especially in media sources. , the study proposes an advocacy project, "Language for Equality: Promoting Gender Fairness," aiming to raise awareness and encourage the use of gender-fair language to combat discrimination and foster gender equality within the college community. This research contributes valuable insights to the ongoing discourse on language as a catalyst for transformative societal change. Limitations, however, include the possible influence of social desirability bias and the distinctive characteristics of the sample. Comprehensive qualitative inquiries, cross-cultural and longitudinal studies, mixed-methods approaches, and evaluations of suggested solutions are among the study directions for the future. It is recommended that media professionals compare educational resources and inclusive language training programs to improve their understanding of gendered language hurdles and practical solutions.
Understanding subtle sexism: Detection and use of sexist language
Sex roles, 2004
In the present research we examined the association between Modern Sexist beliefs and identifying and engaging in subtle sexist behavior. In Study 1, we found that those who endorsed Modern Sexist beliefs were less likely to detect the occurrence of normative sexist behavior (i.e., the use of sexist language), and this oversight was a function of their failure to define such behavior as sexist. In Study 2, we found that those who endorsed Modern Sexist beliefs were more likely to use sexist language and less likely to use nonsexist language. Use of nonsexist language was a function of personal definitions of sexist language. Results are discussed in terms of motivations to self-correct discriminatory behavior and conceptualizations of current forms of sexism.
Language attitudes toward some gendered words in English : A preliminary study
2015
This paper reports on English native and non-native speakers’ attitudes toward the four words: sexy, tomboy, slut, and gay. The analysis paid particular attention to the gender indexed by the participants in their word use and to whether their attitudes toward each word were positive or negative. The results were correlated with the sex and ages of the participants, as well as with the participants' status as native or non-native speakers of English. This analysis suggests the presence of some semantic change, and, with some words, semantic degradation. With all four words, there was also evidence of sexist usage. While native speakers seem to be using the four words in slightly new ways, with accompanying differences in attitude, non-native speakers generally seem to retain old meanings and attitudes. Introduction As teachers of English as a second or foreign language, we believe that understanding the different meanings that certain words carry will compel and enable us to tea...
Technium Social Sciences Journal, 2024
This research explores the complex dynamics of gendered language usage in an effort to provide guidance for language-based initiatives that advance gender equality. The study includes a number of goals, such as determining how frequently gendered words are used, analyzing inclusive language policies' effectiveness and presence, learning about respondents' opinions about gendered language, and finding barriers to the adoption of gender-inclusive terminology. The researcher used a Likert scale to analyze the findings after conducting a quantitative survey with 118 students from the City College of Calamba's Arts and Sciences Department. The results show that respondents were mostly in agreement with the negative effects of gendered language in media and advertising, as well as the difficulties in promoting gender-neutral language, especially in media sources. , the study proposes an advocacy project, "Language for Equality: Promoting Gender Fairness," aiming to raise awareness and encourage the use of gender-fair language to combat discrimination and foster gender equality within the college community. This research contributes valuable insights to the ongoing discourse on language as a catalyst for transformative societal change. Limitations, however, include the possible influence of social desirability bias and the distinctive characteristics of the sample. Comprehensive qualitative inquiries, cross-cultural and longitudinal studies, mixed-methods approaches, and evaluations of suggested solutions are among the study directions for the future. It is recommended that media professionals compare educational resources and inclusive language training programs to improve their understanding of gendered language hurdles and practical solutions.
Beyond Journal, 2022
In the last few years, feminist and LGBTQIA+ movements have been trying to raise awareness of inclusive language as a medium that can compensate for the negative consequences of sexist language. On one hand, it is easy to introduce new idioms and neologisms in genderless or natural-gender languages such as English. On the other hand, it is difficult to suggest and establish new expressions in that direction in Italian since it is a gendered language. That means that Italian is composed of words and phrases that ascribe gender-based attributes or feature an inclination to one sex. This characteristic already makes it difficult to introduce changes in everyday language. Moreover, Italian socio-political culture plays intrinsically an "obstacle" role for the everyday language modifications that awareness-raising movements pursue.
Promoting Gender-Fair Language: The Impact of Arguments on Language Use, Attitudes, and Cognitions
Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 2014
The present research investigates whether arguments encourage speakers to use and to approve of gender-fair language. We collected and pretested arguments regarding gender-fair language and masculine generics and created four messages which supported either gender-fair usage or masculine generics (strong and weak arguments) as well as two control texts. Results showed that speakers changed their language behavior more in the direction of gender-fairness when they had been exposed to arguments for gender-fair language than after control texts. We did not find any effect of arguments promoting masculine generics and no effect on cognitive responses and attitudes. Taken together, these results show that arguments promoting gender-fair language can motivate speakers to use gender-fair wording, a new and important finding in the context of implementing gender equality in language.