Language and Gender

Catalog description

In this course, we will explore questions and research about the relationship between language and gender – how gender influences language variation and vice versa. After reading and discussing some of the foundational work in the field, starting with the pioneering work of Robin Lakoff, we will develop our own research questions and design empirical studies for collecting and analyzing language data. Through the course readings and assignments, we will uncover how our language shapes, and is shaped by, our gender identities. By the end of the course, we will be able to make informed choices as to whether to accept or challenge common assumptions about the influence of gender on language and vice versa. Fulfills: AOK 5