1:25-2:15 MW CH 033
This course is about language and gender: how women and men use
language and how language reflects the status of women and men in
society.  Many people have specific ideas about the way women speak:
women are more polite than men and they speak better than them, they
talk and gossip more than men, they use expressions like kind of and
seek approval for what they say by making their statements sound like
questions or by adding tag questions:  It’s a nice day, isn’t it?  In
this course, we will ask ourselves whether any of the stereotypes
about women’s language are true.  We will try to determine how
differently women and men really speak and understand why this should
be the case.  We will examine gender differences in various cultures
and seek to establish whether the differences are genetic or social.
We will also examine claims that English and many other languages are
sexist and that they deny women a level of recognition equal to
men’s.  For example, is the use of masculine pronouns (he, him, his)
and words such as mankind in passages that are supposed to refer to
females and males really gender-inclusive?  Is there any need to
change language and make it more gender-neutral?

The primary goal of this course is to engage students in a critical
examination of the various ways in which language and gender interact
so they become able to tell apart myth from reality.  A second but
very important goal is to teach students to do research.

Consequently, students will be required to work in small groups and
conduct an empirical study on one aspect of language and gender that
interests them particularly.  Requirements for the course include (1)
a diary in which students record observations on language and gender
and reflect on them, (2) critical evaluations of popular and
scientific articles, and (3) a group research paper.  Regular
attendance is required and will be encouraged through pop quizzes.