PAUL BAKER Will Ms ever be as frequent as Mr? A corpus-based comparison of gendered terms across...
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PAUL BAKER
Will Ms ever be as frequent as Mr? A corpus-based comparison of gendered terms across four diachronic corpora of British
English
1931 1961 1991 2006
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The British Brown Family
All approximately 1 million words of written, published British English from 15 genres.
BLOB (before LOB) 1931 British EnglishLOB 1961 British EnglishFLOB 1991 British EnglishBE06 2006 British English
All corpora mounted on CQPweb
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CQPweb – “girl”
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Research Questions
Has written British English become less sexist since the 1930s?
Have proportions of gender-equivalent terms changed?
Have there been any qualitative changes in gender representation?
To what extent have strategies designed to make language non-sexist being taken up?
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Caution
Each corpus is a million words in size. Despite random sampling, the size may produce strange results.
The corpora are only from four sampling points – any analysis can tell us nothing about years not sampled.
Differences are therefore suggestive of change – they don’t ‘prove’ change.
Common-sense and relating results to social events will help to prevent over- or under-interpretation.
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All pronouns
02000400060008000
100001200014000160001800020000
1930 1945 1960 1975 1990 2005
male pronouns
female pronouns
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Gender inclusive pronouns
BLOB
1931
LOB
1961
FLOB
1991
BE06
2006him or her 0 4 5 3he or she 4 5 14 7he/she 0 0 2 3s/he 0 0 8 1him/her 0 0 3 0totals 4 9 32 14
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MAN and WOMAN
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1930 1945 1960 1975 1990 2005
manmenwomanwomen
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Spokes-
BLOB
1931
LOB
1961
FLOB
1991
BE06
2006
spokesman 1 22 50 43
spokeswoman 0 0 8 5
spokesperson 0 0 2 4
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Police-
BLOB
1931
LOB
1961
FLOB
1991
BE06
2006policeman 30 15 39 30policewoman 0 3 0 3WPC (woman police constable)
0 0 3 0
PC (police constable)
0 1 7 2
police constable 0 2 2 2police officer 2 5 11 34cop/copper 0 6 10 37
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Gendered roles
spokesman, policeman ,businessman ,salesman ,clergyman ,statesman ,congressman, barman, craftsman, fisherman, sportsman, watchman, postman, ombudsman, seaman, workman ,foreman, chairman, doorman, handyman, countryman, rifleman, coachman, gunman, showman ,draughtsman, fireman, manservant, journeyman, highwayman, airman, cameraman, milkman, footman, lineman, guardsman, cattleman, serviceman, yachtsman, tradesman, batman, midshipman, helmsman, boatman, signalman, churchman, swordsman, houseman, infantryman, huntsman, hitman, horseman, stuntman, ploughman, henchman, cowman, oarsman, anchorman, roadman, headsman, dalesman, nurseryman, toll-man, townsman, leadsman, counterman, engineman, militiaman, headman, dustman, herdsman, pressman, liveryman, plantsman, harp-man, merchantman, trawlerman, ticket-man, landsman, benchman, groundman, shopman, baggage-man, bagman, ambulanceman, seedsman, dairyman, netsman, coalman, ferryman
landlady, charlady, spokeswoman, charwoman, saleswoman, policewoman, manageress, businesswoman, needlewoman, horse-woman, vice chairwoman, woman-mercenary, flower-woman, country-woman, actress, stewardess, mayoress, headmistress, seamstress, authoress, shepherdess, manageress, murderess, patroness, deaconess, prophetess, embroideress, schoolmistress, priestess, housemistress, poetess, millionairess, proprietess, princess ,mistress, hostess, Duchess ,waitress ,governess, empress ,baroness ,marquess ,countess , empress
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Gender-specific roles (waitress, lady doctor, fireman etc)
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Gender-specific adjectives – changes over time
1931 man – dilapidated, ferret-like, plain, suet-pudding-faced, thick-set, dirty, shabby, spectacled
2006 man - hunky, handsome, dapper, Gap-clad, fashion-conscious
1931 woman – obedient, docile, quiet, mad, possessive, vain, talkative
2006 woman – grumpy, assertive, determined, fun-loving, formidable
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Unique adjectives – stable patterns
MAN1931 – celebrated, distinguished, noted, rich,
successful, wealthy, urbane1961 – wealthy, grand, famous, top1991 – influential, famous, self-made, richest,
cultivated2006 – great, wealthy, sophisticated, dignified
These words are very rare with WOMAN.
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woman as (continually) desirable
1931 – beautiful, broad-bosomed, pretty, good-looking, fine
1961 – desirable, lovely, prettiest, fresh-complexioned, handsomest, magnificant-looking,
1991 –beautiful, sensuous, attractive, luscious, sexiest, voluptuous
2006 – handsome, sultry, pretty, beautiful, lovely, delightful
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MAN
Man continually represented as physically strong and active: able, hale, fastest, healthy, energetic, powerful, strong, mighty, tough, virile
“Family man” occurs in all 4 corpora – but never “family woman” (assumption that all woman are ‘family women’?)
References to generic man continue : Neolithic man, primal man, primitive man, industrial man, prehistoric man etc. “The Celts were the second wave of invaders to follow Neolithic man to Britain” (BE06)
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Titles
020040060080010001200140016001800
1930 1945 1960 1975 1990 2005
mrmrsmissms
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Summary
Male bias still in existence but shrinking.Hypothesis 1– people more likely to stop using an
old word (Mr)Hypothesis 2 – new terms will be met with
resistance unless they are familiar (Ms, -person, police officer)
Hypothesis 3 – forms that are easier to say are likely to be more successful (cop vs. him/her).
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Summary
Stereotypes of submissive, gossipy women seem to be declining
Men are now sexually objectified (almost) as much as women.
Continuing usage of generic man in history/archeology.
Continuing absence of powerful/influential/physically strong/active women