浅析英语中的性别歧视现象

　　2. The Factors of Sexism in the English LanguageSexism in English is not formed in one day, but built up inthe long period of the development of language, which leads tothe variety of the causes. What causes the sexism in theEnglish Language? There are four factors: cultural factor,physiological factor, social factor and psychological factor.

　　(1) Cultural factorIn the Holy Bible (The Books of The Old Testament): “So theLord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and heslept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its placewith flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from theman he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then theman said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of myflesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this onewas taken.’ ” [1]

　　Man came to the world first while woman made from one of man’sribs was created just as a help meet for him. And she was notcreated until all other animals failed to meet thesatisfaction of the man. From the order of the birth, it isobvious to see the different importance of man and woman. Andman and woman are not equal at all because woman is only apart of man, which itself is the discrimination against women.

　　It is said in the Holy Bible that the first sin is alsocommitted by the woman. She was seduced by the snake intoeating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and eviland having the man eat, too. At last, the woman was punishedto bring forth children in pain and was ruled over by the man.

　　From above, the superiority of men and inferiority of women isclearly seen. The Holy Bible is actually a book of men. AsChristianity is such a powerful religion in Western countries,it is unreasonable to deny that this helps to set andconsolidate the inferiority of women.