关于性别歧视的英语作文及翻译（五篇材料）

第一篇：关于性别歧视的英语作文及翻译

Gender Inequality in Employment of College Graduates

Gender Inequality is a long-standing historical and global

problem.In ancient times, many countries in the world exist such Concept , but the practice of Feminist movement have never stopped.Nowadays, all over the world to advocate equality between men and women ,and in fact the situation is become better and better , but many people still Hold onthis concept In the

subconscious.Today ,we are suffering the global financial crisis, the economic downturn, make it more and more difficult for the

college graduates to look for jobs.In this case, it seems unlikely that girls can find a job, because many enterprises and institutions in the recruitment of Discrimination against girls with a variety of reasons.In my opinion, the concept is wrong, equality between the sexes has long been written into national laws of many countries.And there are many outstanding women, take a important roles in the government and enterprises.At present-day society, the ability of women don’t seem to be smaller than men, so we should change our concept of inequality between men and women completely, we should give girls much more opportunities.And our society will become more harmonious and beautiful!

译文：高校毕业生招聘中的性别歧视

性别歧视是一个全球性的、历史长久的问题。在古代，世界上许多国家人民都抱有这样的观念，但是女权运动也从未平息过。

现在，全世界都在倡导男女平等，事实上这种状况也有很大的改观，但许多人潜意识里仍然存在着性别歧视观念。今天，我们正遭受着全球金融危机的冲击，这使得高校毕业生的就业前景雪上加霜。在这种情况下，女生要找到一份工作似乎更加困难，因为许多企事业用各种各样的理由拒绝女生。

在我看来这种观念是错误的，男女平等已经被写入各国法律很久了。现在，有许多杰出女士，担任着各国政府的政要和企业中的重要位置。

在如今社会，女生的能力不一定会比男生弱，所以我们要彻底改变男女不平等的观念，我们要给予女生们更多的机会。这个社会会变得更加和谐、美好

第二篇：英语作文及翻译

一、国庆60周年

新中国成立60周年来，我国发生了翻天覆地的变化，请你据此写一篇120字的英语作文，谈谈自己的感想。要求:

1.列出生活中反映一两件家乡变化的事, 如购新车、住新房等。

2.列出最近发生的一两件国家大事，如成功举办奥运、“神舟七号” 顺利升空等。

3.要表达出你的喜悦和自豪之情，并谈谈你的感想。

Great changes have taken place since our country was founded 60 years ago.In the past we lived in the small and old houses and now we move into new broad ones which are more than one hundred square meters.At the same time, many families have own their new cars.Besides, our country hosted the 29th Olympic Games successfully in 2008 and we took the first place in winning gold medals.Another inspiring event was that the Shenzhou Ⅶ was sent into space smoothly, which shows our scientific research get great achievements.We are very happy and proud of all these achievements.I am sure our country will become even stronger and richer.I love our motherland very much.Let’s work hard to make contribution to our country in the future.二、金融危机下大学生就业

当今我国大学生就业成功率很低，除了全球性的金融危机影响外，还有就是大学生对工作的选择。有的人认为应该优先选择自己喜欢的工作，而不是自己擅长的;另一部分人相反。你班学生就此事进行讨论，请客观地介绍情况并谈谈你的看法。

观点理由

1.一部分人 喜欢比擅长重要。兴趣是最好的老师，精通与擅长的可能性会大大增加等。

2.另一部分 擅长比喜欢重要。擅长更容易成功，后天努力培养兴趣。

3.你......注意：1.短文须包括所有要点, 可适度发挥。

2.开头已为你写好, 但不计人总词数。3.词数:120左右。

Recently the students in our class have discussed the following topic: which is more important for college graduates to choose jobs, being interested in it or being good at it?

Some agree that the love of job is very important because interest is the best teacher.People are often willing to do what they like doing.If you are not good at it in the beginning, you can work hard and gradually improve your skills to make you good at it.Others hold their view that if you are good at it, you have more chances to achieve success very soon.While you work, you can do all you can to gain the interest in it little by little.From my point of view, I think we should make full use of our strengths to change them each other regardless of the fact that you like it or you are good at it.三、低碳经济下的环境保护

“低碳经济”是一个具有广泛社会性的经济前沿理念，最早是在2003年英国政府发布的能源白皮书《我们能源的未来：创建低碳经济》正式提出的。低碳经济包括低碳发展、低碳产业、低碳技术和低碳生活等经济形态，是指在不影响经济发展的前提下，通过技术创新和制度创新，降低能源和资源消耗，尽可能最大限度地减少温室气体和污染物的排放，实现减缓气候变化的目标，促进人类的可持续发展。

Protection of Environment

1.目前环保还存在着许多问题。

2.为了保护环境，3.各国政府做了大量的工作。

4.我的看法。

There are still many problems of environmental protection in recent years.One of the most serious problems is the serious pollution of air, water and soil.the polluted air does great harm to people’s health.The polluted water causes diseases and death.What is more, vegetation had been greatly reduced with the rapid growth of modern cities.To protect the environment, governments of many countries have done a lot.Legislative steps have been introduced to control air pollution, to protect the forest and sea resources and to stop any environmental pollution.Therefore, governments are playing the most important role in the environmental protection today.In my opinion, to protect environment, the government must take even more concrete measures.First, it should let people fully realize the importance of environmental protection through education.Second, much more efforts should be made to put the population planning policy into practice, because more people means more people means more pollution.Finally, those who destroy the environment intentionally should be severely punished.We should let them know that destroying environment means destroying mankind themselves.四、不吃早餐不好(No Breakfast No Good)

Now a lot of students go to school in a hurry so that they have no time to have breakfast.But not having breakfast will do harm to their health and their study.Having no breakfast will throw the normal work of our digestive system into confusion.As a result, it will do harm to our health.And at our age it is high time for us to grow up.So our bodies are in great need of energy.If we don't have breakfast,there will be not enough energy to supply.This may stunt our growth.What's more, it is a long period between breakfast and lunch.Breakfast provides us with the energy needed for the class.Without breakfast we cannot get along well with our classes.So for the sake of our health and our study, we must have breakfast.不吃早餐不好

现在很多学生上学很匆忙，以至于没有时间吃早餐，但不吃早餐会有害于学生的健康和学习。来源:作文网

不吃早餐会扰乱我们消化系统的正常工作，从而对我们的身体健康产生危害。这个年龄段正是我们长身体的时候，所以我们的身体需要大量的能量。如果我们不吃早餐，就不会提供足够的能量，这会阻碍身体的发育。另外，早餐与午餐之间。的时间很长。·早餐可以为我们提供上课所需的能量，不吃早餐会影响我们上课。所以，为了我们的健康和学，习，我们必须吃早餐。

五、如何交朋友（How to Make Friends)How to Make Friends Everyone needs friends.A friend can give us help and share our difficulties and happiness.But how can we make friends? First, to make friends, you must be friendly to others.Smile at others and you are sure to get a smile in return.You should try to make a stranger feel at home wherever he happens to be.Think more of others than of yourself and never judge a person by his appearance and clothes.Second, friends should negotiate instead of quarrel.When you don't agree someone, please discuss with him.Finally, never believe in those who leave you when you are in trouble.And never leave your friend when he is in trouble.Remember, a friend in need is a friend indeed.Friends should be faithful to each other.So long as you can put your friend's interests in front of yours, you will have a lot of good friends.(162 words)如何交朋友人人都需要、朋友。朋友可以给我们以帮助，与我们共事困难和快乐。但是，怎样交朋友呢? 交朋友首先要对别人友善。你对别人微笑；肯定别人也会报以微笑。要使陌生人感到亲切，关心别人要比：关心自己为重，决不以貌取人。其次，朋友之间应该商量而不是争吵。当与别人有分歧时，要和他一起讨论。最后，不要相信那些在危急关头背离你的人，也不要在朋友危难时离开他。记住：患难之中见真情。朋友应该以诚相待。只要你把朋友的利益置于你的利益之上，你就会拥有好多好朋友。

六、请以 The Sport I like Best 为题，写一篇 120 个词左右的议论文。

作文地带提示：

1.乒乓球不仅是一种运动而且是一门艺术。

2.有人认为打乒乓球不用花力气，我却不以为然……

3.你经常发现球快速运动，运动员的动作很美。

4.虽然我打乒乓球不是很好，但对此颇感兴感。它能使我们强身健体，学会合作。

The Sport I like Best

Of all the sports，I like table-tennis best.I think it is not only a sport but also an art，because it is a game that needs strength and skill.Some people think that playing table-tennis needs little strength，but I don't think so.In playing table-tennis，we should judge the direction of the ball，and hit it back with great strength so that we can win the game.At the same time we need to pick up the ball which falls to the ground.So after one game you will be very tired if you have tried your best.But，as a sport，I think it is more like an art.In the game，you can often find the ball moving quickly，and each of the players' movements is very beautiful.So I like the sport very much.Though I can't play it very well，I still show great interest in it.I think playing table-tennis can build our bodies，keep us healthy and train our brains.What's more，it an help us to learn to co-operate with each other.So I like it very much.七、(我们为什么学习英语Why we learn English)

Why we learn English The English language has become an international language because it is used by people in the most countries in the world now.In the open times, if you want to do business with foreigners, you must English because most of them speak and write in English, English is one of the working languages at international meetings, Today, most of valuable books are written inEnglish, If you know mush English, you will read newspapers and magazines in English and learn a lot of knowledge about interaction better.You also can do What you should do for the world peace.English is very important to us, but many students don't know why;hey should learn it.I hope that all the students should pay more attention to English study and use it freely.(133 words)

我们为什么学习英语 因为世界上大部分国家的人都使用英语，现在英语已经成为一种国际性语言。在改革开放中，如果你想要和外国人做生意，你必须学习英语，固为他们中的大部分人都是用英语说和写，国际会议的语言也是英语。今天，重要的书籍多是以英语出版的，如果你懂得更多的英语，你就可以读英文报纸和杂志，学习更多的国际知识，你就可以为世界和平做出你应该做的贡献。英语对我们很重要，但许多学生不知道他们为什么要学习英语，我希望所有学生都应该重视英语学习井运用自如。

八、On the Internet

在日常生活中，因特网起着越来越重要的作用。请根据下表所给提示为某英文报写一篇题为On the Internet的征文稿。因特网的主要用途信息 看国内外新闻、获取其他信息通讯 发e-mail、打电话学习上网上学校、阅读各种书籍、自学外语娱乐 欣赏音乐、观看体育比赛、玩棋牌游戏生活 购物注意： 1.征文稿必须包括表内所有信息，行文连贯通顺； 2.词数100－120词； 3.标题已给出，不计入总词数。

On the Internet

The Internet is playing a more and more important part in our daily life.（2分）On the net, we can learn news both at home and abroad and all kinds of other information as well.（4分）We can also send messages by e-mail, make phone calls（4分）, go to net school, read various kinds of books and learn foreign languages by ourselves.（4分）Besides, we can enjoy music, watch sports matches and play chess or cards.（4分）On the net, we can even do shopping, have a chat with others and make friends with them.（4分）In a word, the internet has made our life more colorful.九、2007年4月29日上午10点，全国亿万学生阳光体育活动在各地大中小学校同时进行，江苏省1，100万学生积极参与了这项活动 教育部提倡：1.每天锻炼一小.2.健康生活五十年.3.幸福生活一辈子

请你根据以上提示，用英语准备一份发言搞，向同学们讲述一下阳光体育活动的有关情况，并就高三学生是否需要每天花一小时锻炼，谈谈你的看法及理由。

参考词汇：阳光体育活动 a national sports program;

教育部 the Ministry of Education

Good afternoon, everyone.On the morning of April 29,2007, from 10:00 to 11:00, hundreds of students from primary , middle schools and universities all over China joined in a national student sports program.Eleven million students in Jiangsu took an active part in this program.The Ministry of Education calls on students to exercise for an hour every day, in the hope that they will have good health to work fifty years and enjoy the whole life.Personally, I think it a good idea for us senior 3 students to have daily exercise.Although we take an hour a day for exercise.It is well worth it.Taking exercise helps us build up body and keep a clear mind.Therefore, we can work more efficiently.Thank you!

十、Getting up Early ts a Good Habit

Getting up early has been regarded as a good habit since ancient times.Many years ago, people thought that if we went to bed early and got up early, we would be vigorous the whole day.In fact, spring is the best seasonof a year;morning is the best time of a day.In the morning, the air is the freshest and people are usually in the best conditions.Many of us may have the experiences that we memorize some things more quickly and accurately in the morning than at any other time of the day.If we do some exercises or only take a short walk in the morning, we will be full of energy the whole day.Also we will have enough time to prepare our work of the day if we get up early.In short, getting up early can do us a lot of good.Let us remember getting up early is a good habit and try our best to keep it.We will certainly benefit a lot from it.早起是个好习惯

从古代起，早起就一直被视为好习惯。很久以前，人们就认为如果我们早睡早起，一整天都会精神饱满。

实际上，一年之际在于春，一日之际在于晨。早晨空气最新鲜，人们的状态通常也最好。很多人可能都有这样的经历，那就是早上记东西比其他任何时间都能记得快、记得准确。如果我们早上做些运动或散步，这一天我们都会精力充沛。而且如果我们能够早起，就会有充足的时间准备一天的工作。总之，早起对我们非常有益。

让我们记住早起是个好习惯，并尽量保持这种习惯，我们必将从中受益不少。

第三篇：英语中的性别歧视及产生的原因

浅谈英语中的性别歧视及产生的原因

南溪区江南镇初级中学校 刘长连

内容摘要：语言直接反映社会生活。从语言现象的发展和变化中能够看到社会生活的一些奥妙。语言中性别歧视指在语言和语言使用中针对不同的性别而产生的偏见和歧视，它主要指的是对女性的歧视。本文主要通过对英语语言中的女性歧视现象来探讨产生这种现象的原因及为了消除语言中的性别歧视而进行的语言中性化尝试。关键词：性别歧视；原因；语言中性化 1.引言

语言是一种社会现象。社会生活离不开语言，现时语言也是在某个特定的言语团体中使用的。因此社会生活必然对语言产生强有力的影响。社会语言学家认为，语言不仅是思想内容的载体，它本身就是思想内容。从某种意义上，我们可以说语言是社会生活的一面镜子。它反映了某个言语团体里人的思想意识，道德观念以及人与人之间的关系。所以我们从语言这面镜子里可以看到社会生活的一角，从语言现象的发展和变化中能够看到社会生活的一些奥秘。

在社会生活中语言对男女一视同仁，但语言是文化的载体，并在人们不断使用的过程中逐渐得到丰富和发展。作为一个地区，一个民族约定俗成的一种表达方式，语言必然会反映出一定的社会价值观念和民族思维方式。性别歧视是以性别为基础而产生的一种社会歧视现象。《朗曼英语词典》对“性别歧视”的解释是：“以性别为基础的歧视，尤其是男性对女性的偏见。《美国传统字典》的定义是“一种性别成员对另一性别成员，尤其是男性对女性的歧视”。虽然它可以表现为男性对女性的歧视，也可以表现为女性对男性的歧视。但是“性别歧视”通常是对女性的歧视，是人们对女性的偏见和男女社会地位不平等的反映。女性长期以来被看作是the weaker sex/the second sex，是男性的陪衬和附属品。即使在标榜人权、平等的西方发达国家中也是如此。而现代女权运动轰轰烈烈的发展形势正是对这一不平等现象的反抗和反映。从而在语言中，出现了多种多样的性别歧视语，英语也不例外。

“男尊女卑”的思想并非中国独有，而几乎是一种全球现象。那么，英语语言这面镜子是如何反映这种社会现象的呢？ 2.性别歧视语言现象

英语在漫长的发展过程中逐渐形成了以指称男性的词语来概指两性的趋势。虽然人们在使用中时不时有意歧视女性，但仍然反映了社会的偏见，有时会引起误解，并且产生了对女性含有歧视意义的词语结构，因此有人称之为“sexist language”（性别语言）。2.1 称谓中的性别歧视 2.1.1 亲昵称谓

在西方，男性上司称呼他们的女性下属时可以用一些表示亲密关系的昵称，如sugar, darling, sweetie,反过来，女性下属却不能用这些昵称来称呼她们的上司，而且女性上司也不能如此来称呼她们的男性职员。可是陌生男子或非亲密关系的男子却可以用昵称来称呼女子，这说明在英美社会中女性比男性社会地位低，受到的尊重比男性少。2.1.2 姓名称谓 在西方,女子婚前一般用父姓,婚后改用丈夫的姓,例如:在西方婚礼上,新郎新娘步入教堂时,牧师宣布:“I now pronounce you man and wife.”。婚后的男子依旧是man ,而婚后的女子则由Miss变成了wife这种现象不乏女权主义者和职业妇女。当时的美国总统Bill Clinton的夫人Hilary Rodhamon本人是一位女权运动者 ,但她还是把自己的名字根据丈夫和自己的政治需要, 先从Hilary Rodhamon改为Hilary Rodhamon Clinton, 最后改为Hilary Clinton。但是不管怎么改, 都不能超出如下选择: 要么跟父亲姓, 要么跟丈夫姓。这种以丈夫的姓冠之于前的称呼 ,表明妇女出嫁后就成了丈夫的私有财产, 是属于丈夫的。因此无法得到与丈夫平等的权利。未婚女性用Miss冠以父姓, 已婚的用Mrs.或Lady冠以丈夫的姓氏。2.1.3 指代称谓

许多词语结构本来无好坏褒贬之分，只是由于人们的看法和社会的偏见才使它们具有此种区别。英语中一些词语结构就含有贬抑女性或视其为男性附属物的意味。如：提到男女双方时，双方不是处于平等地位，而是男先女后。如：king and queen, brother and sister, father and mother, boys and girls, husband and wife, Adam and Eve, man and woman, Mr.Lucas and his wife Louise.我们可常碰到男性代词概指两性的例子：

Any patient is free to bring his complaint to me if he feels aggrieved.We hope the reader will use his own judgment.Everyone should hand in his homework tomorrow.按规范语法，三个句子中的he 和his 均不指具体的人，而泛指两性。换言之，he 包括she, his包括her。然而实际上，在一般人的心目中，he 和his 已基本男性化了。人们做出的心理反映往往要经历一个先男性后女性的过程。这就反映了男性在社会中所起的支配地位。英语中常用man, mankind 或以－man 结尾的词概指两性。如：chairman, mailman, policeman, workman等。

The average man votes according to his self interest.This was an important step for mankind.Write to your congressman today.2.2 词汇中的男女不平等现象

在英语中，指称社会地位较低的职业往往有男性名词也有女性名词，如waiter/ waitress, steward/stewardess.但指称社会地位较高的职业时，只有男性名词了，要表达女性概念，只能在前面加上lady, woman, female等词，如：a lady-doctor, a woman-lawyer, a female-surgeon。英语语言中是否只缺指称女子的词呢？不！也有些词是只指女子而不指男子，或没有指男子的对应的词，如英语中的baby-sitter按理说这应该是个中性词，但它却被视为女性，故有male baby-sitter之说。male prostitute(男妓)male nurse(男护士)也是同样的情况，甚至还有male house wife(男家庭主妇)而不说house husband。显而易见，缺男性名词的职业在社会上都是被认为地位低微下贱的，男子不能或不该“屈尊俯就”。

男主女从，以逻辑性为中心，女性便居于从属地位。就词汇而言，如以--er,--or 结尾的名词实则是个中性词，但人们将之看作男性名词，所以如是女性则在前面加woman,如：a woman doctor。man 一词不但可以指男人，而且作为“人类的总称”，而woman 则不然。许多职业名词常以man 作为后缀，尽管干这工作的有许多女性。英语中往往还通过对女性名词的恶化来达到性别歧视的目的，光表示“性生活乱七八糟的女子”的词竟达到520多个，几乎所有的女性名词都带有贬义，如queen, lady, mistress, madam等，其贬义为“雌猫，情妇，鸨母”等，没有一个女性名词和对应的男性名词具有完全对等的含义。2.3 语义，词义上的男女不平等现象

同样一个词，用于男子身上和用于女子身上，意思就迥然不同。prudent man 指说明这个男人谨小慎微，畏首畏尾，而prudent woman 指办事细心谨慎。imposing man 指给人印象深刻，令人钦佩的男人，而imposing woman 指令人生畏，冷漠无情的女人。He is a professional.他是从事专门职业的人。而She is a professional.她是一名妓女。

有时，两个词指同一事物，语感色彩也不一样，如bachelor指“未婚男子，单身汉”，而spinster 指“未婚女子，老处女”。然而，这两个词的语感色彩并不平等，因为社会对男女的独身看法也是不一样的。从文化意义上分析，女子只有附属于男子时，才获得社会地位，越是法定的，就越有依附关系，其社会地位也越牢固。例如，做某人的妻子（wife）强于做情人(mistress),而情人从词义上讲，又好于做“女光棍”（spinster）因为“spinster”被人视为身心某方面不健全。

在称谓男性的头衔时不必反映婚否，似乎无论婚否，逻辑性都是健全的，而女性的头衔必须反映某种依附关系。例如Mrs.，Miss和Ms.，其中Mrs.与稳固的社会地位相联系，Miss次之，Ms.则显得神秘莫测。

为什么会产生语义上的男女不平等呢？有人认为，这来自对女性词贬义化这一社会心理现象。有人甚至断言：所有词不论其来源如何，只要是与女性有联系的便会带上色彩。因为在这个大男子主义的社会里，这是一条很重要的语义规则。在语言里，我们的确可以找到很多这样的例子，有些指称女子的词，开始是褒义的，但后来慢慢变成贬义词。如英语名词tart 开始指“小馅饼”被用于对女子的爱称，并无贬义色彩，后来才慢慢带上了“妓女，举止轻浮的女人”等意义。“whore, harlot, wench” 妓女，荡妇等词的演变过程也是类似情况。据统计，“妓女”的同义词往往是由一般词汇降格而来，有500 多个“妓女”名词而与之对应的“男妓”名词只有65个。

词义中的性别歧视。下面从“标志理论”入手，讨论词义上的性别歧视。在词义方面，男性词汇往往无标志，女性词汇常为有标志。男性词汇常常是褒义，女性词汇含有贬义，以至于我们不得不找一个委婉语来代替它，下面这些都是能从语义，词义这个侧面说明语言对女性的歧视。

无语义标志的词

有语义标志的词

man(male human race)woman(female only)he(he and she)she(only she)drake(male, both male and female)duke(only female)fox（同上）vixen（同上）dog（同上）bitch（同上）

man 是一个普通的英语可数名词，既可以作单数，也可以作复数，表示总数。例如It’s man that is responsible for environmental pollution.Men had lived on this island for ten thousand years.这两个句子中的man 和men 都为无语义标志，表示总称，很明显包括woman 在内，但是woman 和women 却有明确的标志。2.4 职业中的性别歧视

许多表示职业的名词,如engineer ,pilot, scientist ,writer, doctor，pilot, scientist, engineer, pilot等对男女都适用,本来是中性词汇,本身没有性的区别。“由于历史上男性长期占据社会主导地位,人们习惯把它们与男性联系起来。”如要特别指女性从事相同职业时,往往在前面加上female, woman，lady, 从而使女性职业名词在外在的形式上呈现出“有标志性”。如woman doctor, female pilot, woman scientist, woman lawyer等。而行业名称冠以男性标记反而不符合语言习惯,但男保姆、男护士除外。只有一些地位较低的职业,如nurse, secretary等,传统上让人联想到女性,而与男性无缘。这种习惯除了与历史和现实有关,也可以说是一种性别歧视。3.英语语言中性别歧视现象产生的原因 3.1 历史原因

在西方文化传统中,男性一直被认为富于创造力。在《圣经》里,创造世界的耶和华为男性,而耶和华创造的亚当亦是男性,亚当的妻子夏娃只不过是亚当一条肋骨的衍化物。这一传统观念就把创造力固定在男人身上,后人便有了“男性的特质是创造力的天赋”的说法。并且在圣经《创世纪》关于上帝造人的神话成了语言起源学说的联想依据。在他们看来,既然上帝造了亚当这天下第一个男人,语言中的“性”范畴就应将阳性置于首位。如果把两者的顺序颠倒过来,就不符合语言习惯。英语语法并没有规定“先男后女”的语序,但人们在长期的言语习惯中,大都以男为先,女为后,女性只能是跟随在男性后面的第二性别。男先女后的语序是如此常见,以至于反过来如说woman and man ,she or he等则会令人感到不习惯。3.2 社会原因

性别歧视的根源可以追溯到史前时代男女所扮演的性别角色。由于男性的肌肉比女性肌肉发达,又不生育,于是他们担当起打猎、耕作的角色,妇女体弱、要生育,所以负责照顾孩子、料理家庭、采集食物等。那时,男女角色虽然不同,但还没有一方价值高于另一方的观念。随着社会生产力的不断发展,男子逐渐从事更多的农业生产活动,占据了主导地位,妇女的地位随着供给食物能力的降低而下降。到了中世纪时期,妇女由于能生养孩子,能为土地所有者生养合法继承人,她们成了地主丈夫的宝贵财产。为了使妇女处于这样的地位,统治者便借助法律令女性屈服和受制于丈夫。于是,各种约束妇女的社会规范和习俗开始形成。在漫长的父系社会里,妇女地位低下,依附男性,受制于男性,这种观念逐渐根深蒂固,被人们视为理所当然。直到二十世纪,妇女的地位有了很大的改善,但是社会化偏见是在社会化的过程中，通过社会群体、父母、亲友、伙伴的言传身教和大众传媒（广播，电影，电视，报纸）获得的。人们对女性的歧视和偏见也是从父母，亲友或群体的交往中直接获得的，或通过大众传媒获得的。在英语中，受传统观念的影响，对女性的语言歧视已经成为了一种恶性循环。比如，人们一看到或听到“virgin”和“prostitute”这两个词，首先想到的就是“处女”和“妓女”的意思，而很少想到它们还分别可用于指“处男”和“男娼”。3.3 文化意识的影响

对女性的歧视和偏见作为偏离客观事实的看法和态度，也是文化意识形态的一部分。所谓文化意识形态，是指与文化价值有密切关系的观念和态度。文化意识形态的传播会反作用于对女性的歧视和偏见。神话是文化的一种形式，女性在神话中的形象也能帮助我们了解语言中的性别歧视现象。在世界各国的许多神话中，男性往往被当作“物种之范”，而女性则是男性的变体，即便女性有时也被冠以“富饶之神”，“大地之母”等美誉，但是她最终仍然逃脱不了“万恶之源”的罪名。受文化意识的影响，英语中也存在大量的蔑视妇女的用语。4.结束语：女权运动及英语语言中性化趋势

语言是社会约定俗成的一种符号，它具有可变性及深沉性特点。同时语言直接反映社会生活，特别是语言的建筑材—词汇对社会生活的变化和发展甚是敏感。词汇作为一种体系，属于历史范畴，每个词所具有的属性，都属于一定的历史时期。通过对词汇的分析研究，我们可以看出社会的变化。就英语而言，我们可看出许多对女性歧视的语言现象。但随着世界妇女解放运动的蓬勃开展，妇女地位的日益提高，语言的这种性别现象越来越少。因此我们应该大力推广语言中性化，如：

1)广泛推广中性词。广泛推广中性词是一种发展的新趋势，若干年后如：hero-heroine, master-mistress 有消失的可能。现常用的中性词有：humanity 代替mankind, artificial 代替man-made, work force 代替man power, police officer代替policeman, camera operator 代替camera man, firefighter 代替fireman, leader 代替statesman, mail carrier 代替mailman等。

2)广泛使用词缀person。最为简单地消灭性别歧视的方法之一就是增添新的构词成份person，复数persons, people.如: chairperson, newsperson, salesperson, fisherperson, worker person, house person, marksperson, spaceperson, repairperson, person-trip等。

消灭语言中的性别歧视现象，已成为欧美国家（特别是美国）近年来妇权运动的一项重要内容。而且已初见成效，最为突出的例子要算英语缩略词“Ms.”了。为什么男子不分已婚未婚，只有“Mr.”，而女子却要分已婚的“Mrs.”和未婚的“Miss”呢？女权主义者们认为这便是男女不平等，于时创造了“Ms.”，对已婚未婚女子一律通用，与“Mr.”分庭抗礼。

这种现象其实不难理解，语言中的性别歧视现象是社会生活中性别歧视现象的反映。所以，只要社会上还存在着性别歧视，语言中的性别歧视就难以根除。而且有人认为，人为制造的语言上的男女平等等于现实生活中的男女平等，那简直就是白日做梦。当然必须承认，语言的改变在一定程度上有助于促进社会改变以及人的观念的改变。

参考文献

[1] Lakoff.The Language war[M].California: University of California Press, 2000.[2] Lakoff.Language and Woman’s Place[M].Language in Society, 1973.[3] 北京外国语学院英语系.汉英词典[Z].北京: 商务印书馆,1989.[4] 邓炎昌,刘润清.语言与文化[M].北京: 外语教学与研究出版社,1989.[5] 林学增.中英文化习俗比较[M].北京: 外语教学与文化出版社,1990.[6] 蒋桂红.谚语视野里的性别歧视[J].宁波大学学报,2004(2)：36-40.[7] 穆凤良,李秀萍.英语中的性歧视与中性化[J].外语与外语教学,1998.[8] 牛励强,于逢春.英语语言中性别歧视现象探究[J].吉林大学社会科学报,1997(2）：50-56.[9] 秦秀白.英语中性别歧视现象的历时文化透视[J].现代外语,1996(2）：45-52.[10] 王永聘.性别歧视在语言使用中的表现[J].宜昌师专学报,1996(2）：56-60.[11] 王志林.英语语言中的性别歧视[J].西南民族学院学报,2001(10）：33-37.[12] 朱伯通等译.哥伦比亚美国文学史[Ｍ].成都:四川辞书出版社,1994.

第四篇：浅谈英语语言中性别歧视

浅谈英语语言中性别歧视

中文摘要

性别歧视在不同的社会制度和国家中都不同程度地存在。而作为一种普遍的社会现象，自然会在语言中得到折射。本文介绍了英语中的性别歧视语的种种表现形式，分析了这种现象产生的社会原因和文化根源，并总结了在英语语言运用过程中消除性别歧视的方法。关键词: 英语语言；性别歧视;产生原因；消除方法

Abstract

Sex discrimination exists in all the social systems and countries, and as a common social phenomenon, it is surly reflected in language.This paper lists out different forms of sex discrimination in English, analyses the social and cultural causes of such phenomenon and summarizes the corresponding methods of eliminating sex discrimination in English speaking.Key words: English;sex discrimination;causes;methods of eliminating

引言

在社会生活中，语言对男女一视同仁，但语言是文化的载体，并在人们不断使用的过程中逐渐得到丰富和发展。作为一个地区，一个民族约定俗成的一种表达方式，语言必然会反映出一定的社会价值观念和民族思维方式。性别歧视是以性别为基础而产生的一种社会歧视现象，«朗曼英语词典» 对“性别歧视”的解释是：“以性别为基础的歧视，尤其是男性对女性的偏见。《美国传统字典》的定义是“一种性别成员对另一性别成员，尤其是男性对女性的歧视”。虽然它可以表现为男性对女性的歧视，也可以表现为女性对男性的歧视。但是“性别歧视”通常是对女性的歧视，是人们对女性的偏见和男女社会地位不平等的反映。“女性长期以来被看作是the weaker sex/the second sex，是男性的陪衬和附属品。即使在标榜人权，平等的西方发达国家中也是如此。而现代女权运动轰轰烈烈的发展形势正是对这一不平等现象的反抗和反映。”[1](P80)从而在语言中，出现了多种多样的性别歧视语，英语也不例外。

一、性别歧视语言现象

（一）人际称谓

亲昵称谓

在西方，男性上司称呼他们的女性下属时可以用一些表示亲密关系的昵称，如sugar, darling, sweetie, girlie;反过来，女性下属却不能用这些昵称来称呼她们的上司，而且女性上司也不能如此来称呼她们的男性职员，可是，陌生男子或非亲密关系的男子却可用昵称来称呼女子，这说明在英美社会女性比男性社会地位低，受到的尊重比男性少。[2](P74)姓名称谓

在西方 ,女子婚前一般用父姓 ,婚后改用丈夫的姓 , 例如 :在西方婚礼上 ,新郎新娘步入教堂时 ,牧师宣布:“I now pronounce you man and wife.”“婚后的男子依旧是man ,而婚后的女子则由Miss变成了wife这种现象不乏女权主义者和职业妇女。”[2](P74)当时的美国总统Bill Clinton的夫人Hilary Rodhamon也在为自己的 ,即支持已婚女性不仅

应当标注夫姓 ,而且只应当标注夫姓 ,而不应继续标注父姓。尽管Hilary Rodhamon本人是一位女权运动者 ,但她还是把自己的名字根据丈夫和自己的政治需要, 先从Hilary Rodhamon改为Hilary Rodhamon Clinton, 最后改为Hilary Clinton。但是, 不管怎么改, 都不能超出如下选择: 要么跟父亲姓, 要么跟丈夫姓。这种以丈夫的姓冠之于前的称呼 ,表明妇女出嫁后就成了丈夫的私有财产, 是属于丈夫的, 因此无法得到与丈夫平等的权利。未婚女性用Miss冠以父姓, 已婚的用Mrs.或Lady冠以丈夫的姓氏。

指代称谓

1）提到男女双方时，双方不是处于平等地位，而是男先女后。

King and queen, brother and sister, father and mother, boys and girls, husband and wife, Adam and Eve, man and woman, Mr.Lucas and his wife Louise.2）.一些形式上没有男性标志的词意，人们习惯上把它们当作是男性词看待。

英语及其它讲英语国家的人习惯认为 professor, doctor, lawyer, surgeon, barrister, magistrate 等为男性，当我们听到有人说：My cousin is a professor 时，多数人会断定professor为男性。若要说明这些词是女性的，一般可在前面加上woman, lady, female 等 修饰语。如:woman professor, lady doctor, female worker等，这些所谓的中性词的用法从一个侧面反映出旧社会中地位较高的职业为男子所垄断，相反地teacher, nurse , secretary, model 等人们一般认为是女性，如为男性时前面要加上male或是man,如:male nurse, man teacher。这些习惯除了历史现实情况有关，也可以说是一种社会偏见。

（二）词语发展

首先，表面上对应的词,含义却往往褒男贬女在英语中往往通过对女性名词的恶化来达到性别歧视的目的。几乎所有的女性名词都带有贬义,如queen, lady, mistress, madam等,其贬义为“雌猫”、“情妇”、以及“鸨母”等,而与之对应的king, lord, master, father 等词,如将他们的起首字母大写即可升格为“上帝”、“基督”、“主”、“神”等意义。

其次，英语中常用一些动物的名称来指称某些女性。

比如:bat(贱妇,丑妇,妓女);dog(丑妇,贱妇,没有成就的女人,妓女);chicken(见面熟的年轻女人);cat(恶妇,包藏祸心的女人,可卑的女人);cow(子女多的女人,肥胖而不整洁的女人,经常怀孕的女人,妓女);mutton(放荡的女人,做少女打扮的老妇女,妓女)。

并且，英语中还有一些带有轻蔑色彩,专指中老年妇女的词汇。

比如:trot(老太婆);hen(爱管闲事或嘴碎的中年妇女);warhorse(粗声大气,肥胖固执的女人);crone(干瘪皱皮的老太婆);hag(爱做坏事的老丑妇);witch(老丑妇);biddy(长舌妇);harridan(面容枯槁,脾气暴躁的老妇)。

（三）谚语运用

理性类

宋朝黄六鸿《福惠全书，弄名部》载：“妇人水性杨花，焉得不为所动”，诋毁女子“用情不专”，“缺乏理性”，在英语中就有相类似的谚语。

Long hair and short wit.(头发长，见识短)

When an ass climbs a ladder, we may find wisdom in women.(若要女子有才智，除非毛驴攀上树)

言及女子“感情游移”“二三其德”的有：

A woman’s mind and winter wind change a lot.（冬天里的风，女子的心胸---变化异常）

Women, wind and fortune are ever changing.（女子，风向与命运，翻天覆地无常态）

婚嫁类

A fair face is half a portion.（姿色艳，嫁妆半）

When the candles are out, all women are fair.（烛灯熄，无妍女）

Daughters and dead fish are no keeping wares.（女大不中留）

Marry your son when you will, your daughter when you can.（娶媳不忙，嫁女宜速）

There are many good women, it’s true;but they are in their graves.（世上好女实在多，可惜都在坟里卧）

He that has a white horse and a fair wife never wants trouble.（倘若妻俊马俊，一世难得安静）

性情类

一代文豪莎士比亚曾云：“弱者，你的名字是女人”（Frailty, your name is woman）弱女子的典型形象特征是“泪水涟涟”。

Woman is made to weep.(女子生来好哭)

Nothing dries so fast as a woman’s tears.（易干不过女子泪）

Woman is made of glass.（女子脆复弱，象是玻璃货）

Glass and lasses are brittle wares.（少女嫩脆，瓷杯易碎）

（四）职业中的性别歧视

许多表示职业的名词,如engineer ,pilot, scientist ,writer, doctor，pilot, scientist, engineer, pilot等对男女都适用,本来是中性词汇,本身没有性的区别。“由于历史上男性长期占据社会主导地位,人们习惯把它们与男性联系起来。”[3](P210)如要特别指女性从事相同职业时,往往在前面加上female, woman lady, 从而使女性职业名词在外在的形式上呈现出“有标志性”,如woman doctor, female pilot, woman scientist, woman lawyer等。而行业名称冠以男性标记反而不符合语言习惯,但男保姆、男护士除外。只有一些地位较底的职业,如nurse, secretary等,传统上让人联想到女性,而与男性无缘。这种习惯除了与历史和现实有关,也可以说是一种性别歧视。

二、英语语言中性别歧视现象产生的原因

（一）、历史原因

在西方文化传统中,男性一直被认为富于创造力。在《圣经》里,创造世界的耶和华为男性,而耶和华创造的亚当亦是男性,亚当的妻子夏娃只不过是亚当一条肋骨的衍化物,这一传统观念就把创造力固定在男人身上,后人便有了“男性的特质是创造力的天赋”的说法。并且在圣经《创世纪》关于上帝造人的神话成了语言起源学说的联想依据。“在他们看来,既然上帝造

了亚当这天下第一个男人,语言中的“性”范畴就应将阳性置于首位。如果把两者的顺序颠倒过来,就不符合语言习惯。” [4](P132)英语语法并没有规定“先男后女”的语序,但人们在长期的言语习惯中,大都以男为先,女为后,女性只能是跟随在男性后面的第二性别。男先女后的语序是如此常见,以至于反过来如说woman and man ,she or he等则会令人感到不习惯。

（二）、社会原因

性别歧视的根源可以追溯到史前时代男女所扮演的性别角色。由于男性的肌肉比女性肌肉发达,又不生育,于是他们担当起打猎、耕作的角色,妇女体弱、要生育,所以负责照顾孩子、料理家庭、采集食物等。那时,男女角色虽然不同,但还没有一方价值高于另一方的观念。“随着社会生产力的不断发展,男子逐渐从事更多的农业生产活动,占据了主导地位,妇女的地位随供给食物能力的降低而下降。”[5](P113)到了中世纪时期,妇女由于能生养孩子,能为土地所有者生养合法继承人,她们成了地主丈夫的宝贵财产。为了使妇女处于这样的地位,统治者便借助法律令女性屈服和受制于丈夫,于是,各种约束妇女的各种社会规范和习俗开始形成。在漫长的父系社会里,妇女地位低下,依附男性,受制于男性,这种观念逐渐根深蒂固,被人们视为理所当然。直到二十世纪,妇女的地位有了很大的改善,但是社会化偏见是在社会化的过程中，通过社会群体，父母，亲友，伙伴的言传身教和大众传媒（广播，电影，电视，报纸）获得的。人们对女性的歧视和偏见也是从父母，亲友或群体的交往中直接获得的，或通过大众传媒获得的。在英语中，受传统观念的影响，对女性的语言歧视已经成为了一种恶性循环。比如，人们一看到或听到“virgin”和“prostitute”这两个词，首先想到的就是“处女”和“妓女”的意思，而很少想到它们还分别可用于指“处男”和“男娼”。

（三）、生理原因

记的有人写道：在医院的育婴室里，每个刚出生的婴儿的小床上都有说明性别的标记，上面清楚写着：“I am a boy”或“It is a girl”.这里男孩的称呼是I, 而女孩却用it。在婴儿还不知道什么是语言时，而在他们的身上已深深打上了文化和语言的印记。在英语中用男性物主代词his指代包括女性在内的任何人的现象也不胜枚举。例如Has everyone completed his

assignment?还有Everyone should do his best on the exam.这里的his已经包括了女性在内。虽然女性享有就业、选举、教育等等同男性一样的权利,然而女性仍然处于社会的边缘,被认为是“弱者”(the weaker sex)和“他者”(the other);男性始终占据主导地位。” [6](P210)根据1980年的联合国统计,男性拥有世界资源的99%,而女性拥有的资源不到1%。“因此说,对女性的歧视与偏见有长期的社会历史根源。”[6](P219)

三、消除英语语言中性别歧视的方法

随着社会的发展和妇女社会地位的不断提高，尤其是随着美国女权运动的高涨，消除语言中的性别歧视的呼声越来越高。这其中核心问题有两个：如何直接剔除语言中的性别歧视词（sexist words）；如何消除第三人称代词泛指而引起的性别歧视问题。我们从英语性别歧视词的转换方式和如何选用恰当的人称代词来消除性别歧视问题的对策这几个方面来进行介绍和讨论。

（一）、性别歧视词转换成无性别歧视词（non-sexist words）的方法尽量使用那些包括两性在内的词，即无性别歧视词，例如：immigrant, voter, officer, coach, church member, grandparent, employee, testee, patriot, customers, dealer, clerk, civilian, politician, tutor, etc.2.以阴性词缀-ess, ette, rix和enne 结尾的词要避免使用并改成无性别歧视的词缀：-or, an, er或ist。例如：actress →actor, administratrix →administrator ,suffragette →suffragist, usherette→ usher ,comedienne→ comedian.3.写信时，如果不知道收信人的具体性别时，最好不要使用传统的Dear Sir, Dear Gentleman, Dear Madam, 可用工作职称代替以免出现差错。例如：Dear friends of the library, Dear Madams and Sirs, Dear personnel officer, Dear Committee Member, Dear Agent, Dear Director.（二）、规避第三人称代词泛指所引起的性别歧视问题的对策

1.采用复数形式

Sexist: When bathing a baby, never leave him unattended.Revised: When bathing a baby, never leave them unattended.2.用We/us/our改写原句

Sexist: From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.Revised: From each of us according to our abilities, to each of us according to our needs.3.改用第二人称

Sexist: No man knows his true character until he has run out of gas, purchased something on the installment plan and raised an adolescent.Revised: You don’t know what your true character is until you have run out of gas, purchased something on the installment plan and raised an adolescent.4.改用被动语态

Sexist: One who, when he has the choice of two evils, chooses both.Revised: One who, when given the choice of two evils，chooses both.5.用 he and she/ his and her ,但是使用的次数不宜太多，否则会造成用词累赘。s/he仅仅可以用于备忘录(memos)，便条(notes)，或者非正式的交谈之中。

6.用名词或上下文中用过的同义词替代

Sexist: To find a friend one must close one eye, to keep him, two.Revised: To find a friend, one must close one eye, to keep a friend, two.7.采用交替使用阳性和阴性来达到平衡

例如：A young child is often persuaded by advertisements to buy what he sees on television.When the child does shopping with a parent, she sees the product on the shelf, remembers it, and asks to have it.（三）、英语教学作用

在英语教学中向学生传授新创立的中性表达法，学校和教师在语言的习得、文化的传授中起着不可低估的作用。改变对女性的否定态度,语言的改革也是重要的一环。语言教师同样也肩负着一份神圣的使命。在英语学习中,教师首先要规范自己的语言,在课堂上尽量避免带有性别偏见的语句。然后,教师根据教学内容把女权运动后英语中出现的新词、新用法传授给学生,有意识地加强性别平等的思想教育,让学生了解英语国家的社会变化、语言动态。应该强调妇女不应该被忽视。女人们每天在生活中仍然发挥着巨大的影响力。没有女人就没有男人的成功。女人们用自己的智慧竭尽全力使每个家庭生活更丰富多彩。

四、结论

在使用上面谈到的方法、对策时，我们一定要把握一个“度”，具体使用那一种方法、对策要取决于它能否使我们的写作、会话顺利进行并达到预期的效果。“正如以前女性主义思想家认为,女性与语言疏远太久,与她们的女性经验疏远太久,使她们不能将自己的经历符号

化。”[7](P331)传统的标准句法和确定的文类都代表父权制话语结构。因此女性主义试图找到新的语言和新的文学形式对女性现实做出反映。她们批评并激烈地改变既存语言,大胆地

进行创作实验,使用新词、新拼写、新语法结构、新意象和新隐喻以远离父权语言的权威结构,为女性寻求一片新的话语空间。女性主义的口号之一就是“妇女通过语言获得完全的解放”。而且，“语言是社会的一面镜子,语言中所折射出的性别差异和性别歧视现象并不是由语言符号本身的自然属性决定的,而是特定社会的价值观念和民族思维方式在语言中的必然反映。”[8](P287)语言本身是中性的,但语言的使用者却可以按照其社会观念和价值观念,赋予语言一定的语用色彩。若要消除语言包括人际称谓系统中的性别歧视现象,首先需根除社会上存在的性别歧视观念,语言的变革只有在社会变革的基础上才能最终实现。

从以上论述可以看到女性要获得自身的真正解放与不平等要做不懈努力。语言对社会的反映 经历了漫长的过程。旧的歧视清除了,新的歧视还会反映到语言中来。语言中性别歧视的真正消除,只能寄希望于在社会现实中,男女真正的平等。“索绪尔认为语言不仅是交际工具,还是思想的载体,没有语言作为载体和工具,人的思维也就无法发展。”[9](P267)性别歧视的改观不能等待男权的施舍,要女性自我的觉醒,要女性自己的参与。在强势和弱势文化的交汇中,同样需要弱势文化自身的努力。强调性别差异的重要性是必要的,但它只是过渡性的,女性不能只作为女性说话,男性也不能只作为男性说话。要走出性歧视的误区,出路在于语言的中性化,而实现语言的中性化,在于不断提高语言觉悟。因此,“女性运动要取得实质性的进展,不是依靠女性自身就能完成的,不仅需要世界范围内广大女性的团结,更需要寻求作为人类另一半的男性的支持与配合,因此更有必要加强与男性的沟通和协商。”[10](P113)

参考文献

[1] 邓炎昌,刘润清.语言与文化[Ｍ].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,1989。

[2] 蒋桂红.谚语视野里的性别歧视[Ｊ].宁波大学学报, 2004, 第1期。

[3] 朱伯通等译.哥伦比亚美国文学史[Ｍ].成都:四川辞书出版社,1994。

[4] 穆凤良,李秀萍.英语中的性歧视与中性化[Ｊ].外语与外语教学,1998。

[6] 让•雅克•卢梭.洪涛译.论语言的起源[Ｍ].上海:上海人民出版社,2003。

[7] 王德春,孙汝建,姚远.社会心理语言学[Ｍ].上海:上海外语教育出版社,1995。

[8] 柏子明.英语中的性别歧视及女权运动对英语的影响[Ｊ].四川外语学院学式化报,1999。

[9](美)埃莱娜•肖瓦尔特.走向女权主义诗学.《新女权批评》及序言[Ｍ].纽约:潘修恩图书公司,1987。

[10]朱跃.论英语词义的变化和使用所反映出的对妇女性别的歧视现象[Ｊ].四川外语学院,1995。

第五篇：论英语中的性别歧视

景德镇陶瓷学院科技

艺术学院

本科生毕业论文（设计）

题目：Sexism in English Vocabulary 学 号： 姓 名： 院（系）： 专 业： 完成时间： 指导老师：

CONTENTS Acknowledgements…………………………………………..Abstract in Chinese…………………………………….Abstract in English…………………………………….1.Definition……………………………………………… 2.Sexism in word-formation methods………………..2.1 Suffixes………………………………………….2.2 Sexism in compound words……………………..3.Sxism in Naming and Addressing…………………..3.1 Sexism and Naming……………………………….3.1.1 Sexism in the first names………………..3.1.1.1 Derivation of Female Names from Male Names……..3.1.1.2 Sexism in Semantic Naming of First Names……….3.1.2 Sexism in the family names…………… 3.1.2.1 Patrilineal System of Family Names 3.1.2.2 Change of Female Family Names upon marriage 3.2 Sexism and Addressing……….3.2.1 Sexism in Addressing Terms…..3.2.1.1Female Social Titles upon Relationship with Male…

3.2.1.2 Derogation of Female Honorific Titles…………….3.2.1.3 Abusive Addressing Patterns………………..4.Sexism in Proverb and Slang……………………………..4.1 Sexism in Proverb…………………………………………… 4.2 Sexism in Slang……………………………………… 5.Conclusion……………………………………………………..6.Bibliography……………………………………………………

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My deepest gratitude goes first and foremost to Professor Hou Xiaohua,my supervisor,for her constant and inspiring guidance and encouragement.She has walked me through all the stages of writing of the thesis.Without her constant and illuminating instruction,this thesis could not have reached its present form.Second,i would like to expree my heartfelt gratitude to all the teachers who taught me when i have striving for my Bachelor Degree for their excellent lectures and inspiring ideas.Last, my thanks would go to my beloved family for their loving considerations and great confidence in me all through these years.I also owe my sincere gratitude to my friends and my fellow classmates who gave me their help and time in listening to me and helping me work out my problems during the difficult course of the thesis

摘要

英语不仅是一种语言工具，也是一种意识形态工具。性别歧视这一文化观念反映在语言的词汇学中。牛津高级字典是这样解释的：“不平等的对待人，尤其是对女性，因为她们的性别”。本篇论文将从英语词汇构词法、词义、称谓语及谚语和俚语分析英语词汇中的性别歧视。所以对性别歧视了解的越多，避免的困难也就越多。这是很有实际意义的。关键词：语言；英语词汇；性别歧视

ABSTRACT

English is not only a language tool, but also an ideological tool.Vocabulary of the language can faithfully reflect the culture it serves such as sexism.The oxford advanced learner's dictionary explains it as below: the unfair treatment of people, especially women, because of their sex.This article will discuss sexism that exists in English lexicon in terms of word formation ,word meaning ,naming and addressing terms ,as well as proverb and slang terms.So the more you know it, the better you will avoid trouble.Therefore, the present research has important practical significances.Key words： language；English word;sexism;

1.Definition

Sexism，according to Oxford Advanced Learner‟s English

-Chinese Dictionary is defined as prejudice or discrimination against people(esp.woman)because of their sex;and according to Longman Dictionary of Comtenporary English ,sexism is defined as ideas and believe that menbers of one(usually man)sex are more able and clever than theode of the other sex.It is manifest in all forms of behavior from subtle gestures and especially language to exploitation and oppression，and in all human institutions from the family to the multinational corporation(Paula S．Rothenberg 1988：21)． It affirms the dominance of men over women，jnst as Rosemary Radford Ruether(1993：165)holds that“sexism is gender privilege of males over females．It is males primarily who have originated this form of oppression，benefited from it，and perpetuated it，legally and ideologically．”In this sense，it keeps women in second．classstatus，denies them their rights to control their own bodies，and denies personal，mental，and physical safety；it reinforces the false notion that any man who is gentle，flexible，compassionateor gay becomes“feminine”and thereby loses status and respect． 2.Sexism in word formation

Word formation is one of the elements in language from which we can find many examples of sexism.The most obvious one is the word “history”,which it combines words “his”and “story”.It claimed that the history belonged to man not the woman.In general,it is divided in to two categories,adding suffixes and compounding.2.1 Adding suffixes Adding-tress is common among words like ,actress,authoress,sculptress and waitress.Although it sometimes awarded some outlanding achievements of women,the importance of its role isn‟t the same as man.For instance,we usually call a man of a general manager,rather than a general manageress.The highest rank of poet in British is Poet Laureate,which it award to every distinguished poet including both males and females.Howerever,rarly had it probably honored a poet of Poetess Laureate.Word like hostess is widely accepted by people in bar ,which its meaning had been degraded.The same as in the terms of JewessNegrss and Quakeress

The suffix of-ette includes three meanings.The first one aims at small size,such as “cigarette(香烟)” and “kitchenette(小厨房）”.The second level is artifical ,such as “Leatherette(人造皮）”.The third level derives from the last two meanings which discloses the oweakness of woman and subordinates to man.As a result ,it discininates against woman obviously.Woman are unfairly treated.Duing the turn of 19 century and 20 century ,“Suffragette”was frequently used by women who wanted to strive rights for women.However,the public and media used it with derogation.Words like aviatrix(女飞行员），executrix(女执行官）and dominatrix(母夜叉)added the suffix of-trix,which all present an insular prejudice towards women.Women are so weak and fragile that they need obey to men.2.2 Sexism in compound words

In addition to sex discrimination in suffixes,compounding is a good example too.Take word-formationof common words made by “man” and “woman”for example.on one hand,there are a great many words with “man”,like human,policeman,chairman,businessman,sportsman,superman,mankind,postman,Englishman,airman,salesman,clergyman,kinsman,countryman,etc.Even the word “woman”is made up of “man.All these words should refer only to the male,while in fact,the meanings of these words also cover woman,which is obviously unfair to the female.Actually,this kind of words are regarded as masculine words in grammar.According to the point of view in English history,it inherits word-formation principle of Latin and old English in grammar gender.So such kinds of words empasize masculine in word structure.At the sametime,it also stresses that all things are done by the mmale, not the female in practical use.That is quite unfair to the female.On the other hand,in social life,pepole always regard women with discrimination.If a woman is engaged in noble cases,she will face much more difficulties than men.And the following meaning of words also show that the words made up of”woman”mainly emphasize the characteristics of women who are engaged in some kind of profession or belong to a certain of sector.For example,(1)Womankind: female human beings(2)Chairwoman: a woman presiding officer of an assembly meeting,committee or board(3)Womanpower:the power of woman physcial strength(4)Policewoman: a woman who is in a member of a police force(5)Womanhood:the state of being a woman;woman(6)Horsewoman:a woman horseback rider

3.Sexim in Naming and Addressing Spender(1985:24)notes: one of the features of English language practices which are inherently sexist is the use of naming and addressing terms.”Naming and addressing terms play an important role in interpersonal communication.They are continuously used in our daily life hence the social and cultualfactors encoded in them are very valuable for us to explore.3.1 Sexism and Naming

Naming system usually includes first name,middle name and family nam,such as “William Jefferson Clinton”.First name such as”William”in the example,is otherwise known as Chtistian name,forename or given name.Middle name like”Jefferson”in the example occurs betwwen the first name and family name as the second forename,and is usually represented by its capitalized initial letter and is often used in formal occassions.Family name is known as Surname,or last name,which is a name shared in common to identify the mumbers of a family,which is usuallyinheritedfrom the ascending generation on the paternal side,such as‟Clinton”in the example.This part will discuss the sexist phenomena in the first and family name on the basis of the analysis of their semantic features.3.1.1 Sexism in the first names

Giving first name to the infant is one of the most important tasks.First name is truly a lifetime gift from parents;it helps define the children within the family,school and the outside word.Hence an analysis of sexism in first names is very significant.3.1.1.1 Derivation of Female Names from Male Names

In English lots of female names derivate from male names by adding affixes for example,Stephen-Stephanie,Dana-Dana.Affixs play an important role in the formation of female names.After researching affixes used to refer to female in English,Mills(1995:93)claims that those affixes lead to a view of women as a derivation from a male universal norm and the female form is seen as the marked term and the male as the unmarked term.Therefore,it is not a surprise that female names would have some consistent marker bias.Many female names derive of male ones by addingthe suffixes “-a”(or “-ia” due to phonetic reason), “e” and “-line” to them.like Albert and Alberta、、Alex and Alexa、Daniel and Danielle、Gabriel and Gabriell and Paul and Pauline etc.First corresponding with the above, research has shown that male names differ fromfemale ones in two major aspects.Firstly, male names are shorter in spelling than female names according to the research, There are many male names are formed with one syllable such as Jim, Fred, John, Bob and Jack, while only few female names are one syllable.Furthermore, fewer female names have three or more than three syllables, such as Roberta, Victoria and Amand.Part of the explanation of this study lies in the fact that many female names are originated from male names by adding one or more syllables.Secondly, male names are phonologically different from female ones.This thesis finds that majority of male names are ended with consonant phonetic symbol in which some male names end with the stops [d], [t], [k] such as Robert, Richard, Jack;while only two femalenames do, namely, Brooke and Jade.However, most of female names analyzed endedwith a vowel [i], [i:], [ə], such as Mary and Anna, but only a few male names do so.Cutler argues(1990: 476), “Small vocal tracts such as [i], [i:], [ə], which producehigh-pitched sounds, are typically possessed by smaller, weaker, less threateningbeings.” Therefore, the frequent use of [i] in such female names as Tracey, Mary andBonnie, and [ə] in Rita, Selina and Lisa, reflects “smallness and lack of threat are heldto be desirable attributes of females”.Theoretically, the practice of deriving female names from male ones forms the contrast in which men are dominant and women are subordinate in society and meanwhile it is in accordance with the belief in Bible that woman was created from a rib of man.3.1.1.2 Sexism in Semantic Meaning of First Names

The names that people give their children show the hopes and dreams they have for them and also reflects their parents‟ hope and expectations for their children.So from their first names,we can know the different attitudes of parents to boys and girls.First names for girls and boys often reflect stereotyped features of feminity or.masculinity prevailing in a particular culture or society.It is undeniable that first names contain various connotations and this thesis will make an effort on the sexism in name‟s connotation In our society the vast majority of first names carry clear feminine or masculine connotations.People no matter in the East or West attach great importance to marking the child‟s sex when choosing a name for him or her.And in baby naming book, there might be two lists: one for girls and another for boys.According to it, parents are recommended to choose a name that identifies the child‟s sex.Besides marking the sex of the child, first names for girls and boys often reflect stereotyped features of femininity and masculinity prevailing in culture.More female names contain the connotation associated with appearance while more male names contain connotation associated with wealth, power, wisdom and intelligence.It reflects the sexist expectaton that male should improve internal quality and female should pay more attention to external beauty.3.1.2 Sexism in Family Names

Family names are passed down from generation to generation, it symbolizes the blood relationship and development of a family.From the way of giving family names, it is not difficult to find the sexism.3.1.2.1 Patrilineal System of Family Names

When women were born, they were given their fathers‟ name and adopted their husbands‟ names upon marriage.It‟s only sons who carry on their fathers‟ name forever, whereas women lost this capacity when they got married.This stresses the portrayal of women as the prosperity of men, passed from father to husband.They just have no freedom to own their own names.US Senator Hilary Clinton.Either way she names herself after a man－ her father or her husband, or both.Children typically inherited their fathers‟ rather than their mothers‟ family names, which enables fathers but not mothers to achieve a direct continuity of naming from generation, provided they have sons.Even if there are only daughter, however the derivation of female forms from male names enables the transmission to continue.It‟s very common for women in English-speaking countries to adapt their husbands‟ names upon they got married.Thus women are said to“marry into families and families are sad to „die out‟ if an all-female” generation occurs.Thus, Spender comments:“Practically”, it means that women‟s family names don‟t count and there is one more device making women invisible.”

In the ceremony, the, the official asks,“ Who gives the bride away?”and the father answers.“I do”, or “Her mother and I do”, but that does not solve the problem inherent in the idea that a bride is something to be handed over from one man to another.3.1.2.2 Change of Female Family Names upon Marriage

When a woman is referred with her husband‟s name, as in “Mrs.John Smith”, she is rendered both subordinate and invisible.For example, when a woman named Helen Keller marries to a man named John Fords, She is submerged by being called Mrs.John Fords.Even the woman is of high social status;it is the same with her.One of the candidates in 2008 Presidential Election of the United States of America, Hilary, the former president of Bill Clinton‟s wife, kept her maiden name “Hilary Rodham” after marriage.But in order to help her husband in the election, she had to change her names.Though allegedly a feminist, she has shifted between naming herself Hilary Rodham, Hilary Rodham Clinton and Hilary Clinton.Despite the fact that some countries no longer legally require for women to adopt their husband‟s names upon marriage, women who do not conform to this practice still face many practical and attitudinal obstacles.3.2 Sexism and Addressing

3.2.1 Sexism in Addressing Terms Addressing term is a mark that indentifies the relationship of people in social activities, which can present our ideal and social ties.It is used frequently in the communication.According to different criteria, address forms can be divided into different classifications.They can be divided into: social titles, occupational titles, endearments, abusive terms,kinship terms etc.3.2.1.1 Female Social Titles upon Relationship with Male Mr、Miss and Mrs are used frequently when we refers to address someone in social communication.All adult men are called Mr, however women have different addressing terms after they get married.As we know, marriage and age is private.The title of Mrs indicates that women are reluctant to disclose his marriage condition, which is unfair to women.In addition to this ,when adapting the Mrs, her family names do not belong to her own ,but her husbands‟.“Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher and Nobel Prize Lady Marie Curie did not change this condition.These two famous persons still surbodinated to men.人们在社会交往中称呼某个男性或女性个体时，最常使 用的是Mr、Miss 和Mrs。对所有成年男性都统称为Mr，而对于 成年女性则有已婚和未婚的不同称谓。众所周知，婚姻和年龄 一直都是涉及到个人隐私的话题，而Mrs.这一称谓公开宣布 了女性不愿意表明的婚姻状况，让女人永远都得不到和男人 能够平起平坐的对待。更有甚者，当使用Mrs.的时候，女性使 用的不是自己的姓氏，取而代之的是丈夫的姓，表明自己已经 嫁给了某人，即使是一代名相“铁娘子”撒切尔夫人和诺贝尔 物理奖的居里夫人也没有改变这种现象，这两位女强人虽闻 名世界却仍旧摆脱不了被的问题。这一语言现象正

是由于人们认为男人是世界的主宰，而女人只是男人的附属

3.2.1.2 Derogation of Female Honorific Titles

In the male-orienated society, people honor high stature to men solely, for instance chairman、spokesman and policeman.However when woman gets achievements in her career, she will be regarded as an example.Such as words, doctor、lawyer can both designate the same state or condition as it did for men.However,it is a convention for people classifying them into male-dominated society.for example, “master” and “mistress”.In an earlier society, master and mistress were simple male-female equivalents meaning “one who has control over or ownership of something or has control over another or others”.With the changing of society, “master” now generally refers to a man who has power over others or who has acquired skills in some field.But its feminine counterpart cannot be used in this way.It is practically restricted to its sense of “paramour”, a woman who a man has a sexual relationship with, but is not married to.For example, “He is a master of intricacies and academic politics”, and “Catherine declined to be his mistress, and returned to her husband”.3.2.1.3 Abusive Addressing Terms for Female

Abusive terms of address are unfriendly and insulting terms to address others;convey quite unpleasant affections.There are two major types of words that are most likely to serve as abusive addressing terms which females are humiliated.Examples of the first type are: “wanton” is used to address a woman who is immoral, lewd, and unchaste.The second type are associated with such words as ass, pig, rat, tigress, duckie, shrew, turkey, cow, goat which is closely connected with the figurative meanings of such foods, plants and animals.A.Foods The food terms have not escaped the process of derogation, which often associated with women show women‟s passive image and subordinate status.The following are some examples: cheesecake—a picture of a naked lady;dumpling—short and fat women;mutton—indicating an elderly lady dressed up as a young girl in “mutton dressed(up)as lamb”;

sweet-pie—a mistress;tart—a prostitute or women behave frivolously or a woman considered to be sexually;B.Plants

Plants names are involved in addressing male or female.But the semantic prototype of male is a gigantic tree while that of female is flowers.Plants names are used to address females, they often have insulting meaning as follows: clinging vine—a woman who overly depends on a man emotionally;shrinking violet—a shy woman;wall flower—a woman who has no one to dance with.C.Animals

When you use an animal name for a female, usually they are smaller animals like “kitten”, “bunny”, “chick” which are more likely to become pejorative;and others like “chicken”, which more likely to acquire sexual suggestions.Male, however, are referred to as being a tiger, moose, or even as a bear to show aggressive masculine attribute and dominance to female.When you use an animal name for a female, usually they are smaller animals like “kitten”, “bunny”, “chick” which are more likely to become pejorative;and others like “chicken”, which more likely to acquire sexual suggestions.Male, however, are referred to as being a tiger, moose, or even as a bear to show aggressive masculine attribute and dominance to female.The following are examples:(a)For females bitch—a woman considered to be spiteful or overbearing or a lewd woman;butterfly—a showy or frivolous person(esp.a female);cat—a malicious or spiteful woman or an evil woman;chicken—prostitutes;(b)For males

goat—an old man who is sexually active or a lecherous man;loin—a brave, strong, or fiercely cruel person(usu.of males);tiger—a fierce, determined person(esp.males);wolf—a man given to paying unwanted sexual attention to women or a satyr.From the example discussed above, we could conclude that names of foods, plants and animals used to address female are sexist, because most of them humiliate female from the perspectives of appearance, personality and identity and meanwhile imply that female is inferior to male or easy to be obtained by male.4.Sexism in English proverbs

English proverbs reflect the social customs and cultural perceptions of the English-speaking countries.Since sexism is embodied in human culture, English proverbs unavoidably reflect sexist discrimination.This essay penetrates into sexism in English proverbs from three perspectives, namely status, personality flaws, and demands on women.4.1 Sexism in English proverb There are many proverbs that indicate women‟s low condition in society and her vulnerability in family.The following examples are classified into three kinds a.Social status and family status Man, woman and devil are three degrees of comparison.(男人、女人和魔鬼，三个等级分贵贱。)If the husband be not at home, there is nobody.(丈 夫不在家，等于说没人。)

A woman‟s advice is never to seek.(女人的建议一文 不值。)A woman of no birth may marry into the purple.(夫荣 妻贵。)A woman, a dog and a walnut tree, the more you beat them, the better they‟ll be.(拳脚之下出好妻，棍棒之下 有义犬，胡桃敲打多结果。)A man is a man though he have/has but a hose on his head.(家贫袜当帽，仍是男子汉。)A man of straw is worth of a woman of gold.(稻草男 儿抵得上金玉女子。)A fair face is half a portion.(姿色颜，嫁妆半。)Since the acient time ,women were suppressed under the low social status and suffered a lot.They subordinated to men and acted as an animal for men beating.b.vulnerability characteristic(1)Women are fragile

Frailty , thy name is woman.(脆弱啊，你的名字是女 人。)Woman is made to weep.(女人生性爱流泪。)A woman and a glass are ever in danger.(女人易毁，玻璃易碎。)A woman is the weaker vessel.(女人是易碎的器皿。)It is no more pity to see a woman weep than to see a goose go bare foot.(女人哭如鹅光脚走路，根本不值得可怜。)(2)Women are changeable.A woman is a weather cock.(女人是风向标。)A winter weather and women’s thoughts change oft.(秋 天的云，女人的心—变化莫测。)Women are wavering as the wind.(女人心思犹如风之多 变。)There’s nothing sooner dry than women’s tears.(什 么也没有女人的眼泪干得快。)(3)Women are noisy and troublesome.A woman’s tongue is the last thing about her that dies.Where there are women and geese, there wants no noise.(哪有鹅和女人，哪不缺喧闹声)Foxes are all tail and women are all tongue.Three women and a goose make a market.(三个女人一只 鹅，市场里面闹哄哄。)A woman’s tongue wags like a lamb’s tail.(女人饶 舌如同羔羊摆尾。)Words are women, deeds are men.（女人的嘴巴，男人的 行动。）

(4)Women are deceptive, pretentious and evil.Every woman would rather be beautiful than good.(女 人爱美不重德。)Tell a woman she is fair, and she will soon turn fool.(跟女人讲她长得漂亮，很快她就会晕头转向。)Bad woman are worse than bad men.Trust not a woman, when she weeps.Bad women can do more than the devil.Women are the devil’s nets.(女人是万恶之源。)There is no devil so bad as a she-devil.(魔鬼当中女 人最坏。)3.Traditonal requirments The smell of an onion from the mouth of the lovely is sweeter than that of a rose in the hand of the ugly.(美女口中葱蒜臭，胜过丑女手中玫瑰香。)Husbands are in heaven whose wives scold not.(老婆 不唠叨，丈夫就像生活在天堂里。)A simple maiden in her flower is worth a hundred coats of arms.(正值芳龄的纯洁少女值一百枚勋章。)Beauty without virtue is like a rose without scent.(美而无德犹如花无香味。)Silence is the best ornament of a woman.(女子文静，不须治容。)Maidens should be mild and meek, swift to hear, and slow to speak.(少女尚温柔，多听慢开口。)Modesty is the ornament of women.(稳重为妇女增美。)A good wife and health are a man’s best wealth.(贤 妻与健康是丈夫最佳财富。)从古至今，女性都处在被观赏和被品位的地位，在男性占主 导的社会中，女性被要求既要上得厅堂，又要下得厨房，既要有 貌，又要有德，既要纯洁，又要贤淑。