Essay Language is Powerâ€Sexist Patriarchal Power - 1741 Words

â€Å"Language is power, life and the instrument of culture, the instrument of domination and liberation†- Angela Carter Language affects every aspect of our life, but we rarely question it; if we examine the words we use and the way we use them, we find a sexist patriarchal myth passed down from the ancient Greeks. Their leaders used the art of language to create a dichotomy between men and women, in order to retain power (Lecture Notes 2 Dec. 2011). For example, the two words we use to describe gender, masculine and feminine, limit us with their strict definitions. Sociologist Allan G. Johnson, in his The Gender Knot, defines â€Å"[masculine as] aggressive, daring, rational, emotionally inexpressive, strong, cool headed, in control of†¦show more content†¦This myth is an absolutist story that limits our capacities for greater social development. We —both men and women— must become actively aware of this pernicious myth, in order to overcome the obstacles women face as they seek greater social, political, and economic power. Language, myth, and power are three entangled elements we use to identify ourselves in a culture. National Public Radio’s Susan Stamberg interviewed Linguist Deborah Tannen on the effects language has on power (Tannen). Tannen explained that language builds connections between people, as time goes on these connections multiple and strengthen, increasing that person’s power. She gives the example of a supervisor’s relationships with their employees and employers, as they develop bonds and gain trust from their co-workers, they can later use these connections to advance their career (Tannen). Language builds connections and unites people. As people unite, they form a society and the people with the most connections gain more power. Society uses myth, as mythologist William Doty explains, to â€Å"model possibilities (both positive and negative) for the roles its citizens will enact† (28). The language people use holds power, because it constructs the myths that members of a culture use to dictate the roles of other members, thus distributing power.Show MoreRelatedEssay about Gender Issues in Religion1633 Words   |  7 Pagestheir impact on religious teaching and practice.[1] With some religions, their scriptures are considered to be infallible and therefore not to be questioned. So the question itself are religions sexist is a fairly new one. 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