浅析英语中的性别歧视现象

　　Feminism has been one of the main social movements since the1960s, and there is no doubt that this movement will continuein this century. Its impact is felt in many societies aroundthe world and in many spheres of life. Language was and isseen by many feminists as a powerful instrument of patriarchy.

　　It is therefore not surprising that language is subject tofeminist scrutiny, which leads to elaborate and detaileddescription of sexist practice affecting language use.

　　In the previous paragraphs, sexist language use in vocabularyhas been pointed out. However, it is not enough to just pointout the problem. A desire to change the patriarchal and sexistnature of language has been expressed and therefore we shouldbe engaged in various types of linguistic reform or languageplanning. The feminist’s demand for linguistic reform, if weare to be careful in our attempt to understand it, cannot beinterpreted as a demand for purging of certain words,sentences, or statements from the English language. It israther to be interpreted as a demand for halting the use ofsuch words, sentences or statements, either because the use isitself objectionable, or because what the use implies ismorally objectionable. One of the important reasons forfeminist language reform is that linguistic change is seem tolag behind social change, effectively hindering the linguisticreflection of social change.

　　So, the key to better sexist language in English is lexicalneutralization, eliminating generic pronouns, coining newwords and striving for balanced naming and addressing system.

　　But the elimination of linguistic sexism lies in socialchange. Only by changing the social structure till one daywhen women and men own really equal status can languageequality be truly achieved. Therefore, linguistic action andsocial action should be taken simultaneously for the purposeof eliminating sexism in language.