ABSTRACT

With the growth of sociolinguistics and the rise of feminism in the 1960s, the piecemeal studies on gender difference in language enter into heyday. Because of the essential difference between men and women, gender difference exists in different languages, so sexism becomes one of the eternal topics in linguistic researches.

The discrimination against women can be found not only in policy, law and economy, but also in language. Although English and Chinese belong to different language families, they have similar aspects. English-speaking people and Chinese live in the same patriarchal society, in which women are traditionally confined to home and have less access to education and society. There is a close relationship between language and society. In English and Chinese, word structure, phrase and proverbs, reflect the discrimination against women and reinforce the subordinate status of women.

Language is not only the mirror of people’s thinking and society, it also have influence on them. A comparative study on sexism in English and Chinese has shown us that language itself is not discriminatory, but it reflects and contributes to gender discrimination. The cultural and social factors have influenced the sexist language. When people take steps to change the sexist language structure, they are in fact trying 

to change women’s status in society.

The thesis, based on a detailed analysis of the differences in sexism between English and Chinese, illustrates the similarities and differences from the aspects of lexicons, semantics, syntax and pragmatics. The reasons for similarities and differences are discussed from historical, cultural and political angles. Finally, some strategies are put forward to avoid sexism in English and Chinese respectively. 

The changing process of language is quite slow. As long as people have a full awareness of the phenomenon of linguistic sexism, change the improper mode of thinking and avoid using expressions and words that are regarded as the sexist usage of language, language can be purified and the harmony of society can be achieved.

Key words: Sexism; English; Chinese; Comparative study

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two  LITERATURE REVIEW3

2.1 Sexism-3

2.2 Sex and Gender-3

2.3 Research on Sexism in the West-4

2.4 Research on Sexism in China-5

Chapter Three  SEXISM IN ENGLISH-7

3.1 Sexism in Word Formation-7

3.2 Word Order-8

3.3 Names for Women-8

3.4 Proverbs-9

3.5 Metaphor-9

Chapter Four   SEXISM IN CHINESE-11

4.1 The Formation of Chinese Characters-11

4.2 Word Order-12

4.3 Diminished Names for Women-12

4.4 Proverbs-13

Chapter Five  SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHINESE AND ENGLISH IN SEXISM-14

5.1 Similarities between Chinese and English in Sexism-14

5.1.1 Lexical Similarities-14

5.1.2 Syntactic Similarities-15

5.1.3 Semantic Similarities-15

5.1.4 Pragmatic Similarities-16

5. 2 Difference between Chinese and English in Sexism-16

5. 2.1 Difference in Language System-- Alphabet Language and Ideographic 

Language-16

5.2.2 Difference in Job Title System-17

5.2.3 Difference in Semantic Collocation-17

    5.3 Reasons for the Similarities between Chinese and English in Sexism-17

5.3.1 Patriarchal System and Courtesy-17

5.3.2.The Cultural Ideology: Male Superiority and Female Inferiority -18

5.3.3 Social Tradition: Male Exteriority and Female Interiority-19

5.3.2 The Economic and Political Reasons-19

Chapter Six  STRATEGIES OF IMPROVING SEXISM IN CHINESE AND   ENGLISH-20

6.1 Strategies of Improving Sexism in English-20

6.1.1 Avoid Generic Nouns and Prouns -20

6.1.2 Using Neuter Words or Gender-free Language -21

    6.2 Strategies of Improving Sexism in Chinese-22

Chapter Seven  CONCLUSION-23

REFERENCES-25