WEEK NO.

10 & 11

TAGOLOAN Community College

Baluarte, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental
Tel. No. (08822)740-835/ (088)5671-215

College of Arts and Sciences

Course Code: GEE 7 – Gender and Society
Semester of A.Y. 2022-2023

MODULE 5
GENDER DOMAINS AND SOCIAL INSTITUTION

Week 10 & 11 will focus on the fifth module, from lesson 1 to 2.

5.1 Language and Gender in the Workplace

5.2 Language, Gender, and Sexual Violence: Legal Perspectives

Introduction

Lessons 1 and 2 emphasize the point of view of gender and language especially in the

workplace, their relation, and its differences in how men and women react or respond to a
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particular situation.

It is being introduced in this module that language is a potent tool for how humans

understand and participate in the world. It can be designed how we see society. It is a part
of the culture.

In this regard, language is not a neutral force; it enforces certain ideas about people including

gender. Kintanar and Angela Tongson (2014) focused on three aspects of language that informed how
gender is shaped – language articulates consciousness, reflects

the culture, and affects socialization. On the other hand, language is also a process that
represents one’s views, beliefs, and experiences.

In addition, violations of gender-fair language are also presented in this module which you can reflect
the ideas into real-life situation.

Rationale

In this lesson, you will be able to acknowledge the most relevant communication styles applies to men
and women in general. The ideas presented are anchored with empirical research and experiences that

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brought as the basis to represent one’s views and beliefs on gender’s language in the workplace and its
sexual violence related to language and gender.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

A. Understand the different point of views of language and gender in the workplace;
B. Identify the ways language discriminates against women;
C. State forms of discrimination in language; and D. Explain how gender-fair language can be realized.

Activity

ACTIVATING PRIOR
KNOWLEDGE
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A. Look at the picture at the left side and read the statement
indicated. How would you respond/defend that situation? Expound
your ideas.

B. Observe yourself for a day and answer the following

questions:

How do you speak to your female friends and how do you speak to your male friends.? Do you shift your
tone or word choice?

How do you use communication to assert yourself and your ideas? How do you think people of
the other gender would use language to assert themselves? Would it be the same or different?
Why or why not?

Discussion

5.1 LANGUAGE AND GENDER IN THE WORKPLACE

Gender Differences in Workplace Communication

Top Three Communication

Top Three Communication Strengths
Weaknesses
• Commanding physical presence. • Overly blunt and direct.
MALES • Direct to-the-point interactions. • Insensitive to audience reactions.
• Effective display of power. • Too confident in own opinion.
FEMALES • Ability to read body language and • Overly emotional.

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pick up non-verbal cues. • Meandering – won’t get to the point.

• Good listening skills. • Not authoritative.
• Effective display of empathy.

Two (2) sets of qualities in assessing communication style: warmth (empathy, likeability, caring), and
authority (power, credibility, status). In addition, men are also judged to be better at monologue, women at
dialogue.

Below are a few examples of comparing communication styles at work.

WOMAN MAN

• Good listening skills include making eye • Listening can take place with a minimum of
contact and reacting visually to the speaker. eye contact and almost no non-verbal feedback.
• When a woman nods, it means she agrees • When a man nods, it means he agrees.
or encouraging another to continue speaking.

• Emotionally expressive and have less ability in • Have a greater ability to hold their emotions in
controlling their emotions displays. check and to “keep a poker face” in business
situations.
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• Women too often have from a “good student” • Men are more aware that they need to promote
mentality, believing that people in charge will notice themselves (and their hard work and positive
their hard work and positive results and promote results) to get ahead.
them.

• Make decisions, they tend to process and think of • Men process internally and don’t speak until they
options out loud. come up with a solution.

• Women more readily understand that sometimes • Men’s relative discomfort dealing with emotion
people just need to be heard. leads them to look for solutions.

• Tend to avoid confrontation and prefer indirect • Make direct accusations.

accusations.
• In business meetings, men talk more than
women.

When considering how gender affects communication, keep in mind that with any human interaction, rarely
is anything exact. Still, it is helpful to know when your personal “default” communication style (whatever it
may be) is an asset, and when it becomes a deterrent. Comparing your strengths and weaknesses to these
generalized gender differences is one place to start. And enlarging your repertoire of communication skills,
so you can employ strategies that are most effective under various circumstances, will definitely give you an
advantage.
The most effective communicators, male and female, are masters at balancing power and empathy signals,
so that they come across as both confident and caring.

5.2 LANGUAGE, GENDER, AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE: LEGAL

PERSPECTIVES

Violations of Gender-Fair Language

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Sexist Language is a tool that reinforces unequal gender relations through sex-role stereotypes,
microaggressions, and sexual harassment. Language can be used to abuse, such as in the case of sexual
harassment, or to perpetuate stereotypes. It can form subtle messages that reinforce unfair relations, such
as how “men cannot take care of children” or women cannot be engineers” which may impact how one
views his or her capabilities. All in all, language is a powerful force that plays a significant role in how one
perceives the world.

The following are condensed versions and real-life examples of violations of gender-fair language.

A. Individualization of Women
This is rooted in the assumption that men are dominant and are the norm of the fullness of humanity,
and women do not exist.
• The generic use of masculine pronouns or the use of a masculine general.
Ex. The use of the word “mankind” assumes that men are representative of all people on this planet,
and that women’s presence or roles are not acknowledged. Similarly, saying “guys” when referring to a
mixed-gender group assumes that girls are invisible …
• The assumption that certain functions or jobs are performed by men instead of both genders. Ex.
The farmers and their wives tilled the land.
• The use of male job titles or terms ending in man to refer to functions that may be given to both genders.
Like the word “businessman”, “chairman” assume that all businessmen or chairmen are men and that
certain jobs may not be for women, which is not true.

B. Trivialization of Women
• Bringing attention to the gender of a person if that person is a woman. The use of “lady”, “girl”, or
“woman” along with the noun brings attention to the gender of the person rather than to the job or function.
Ex. For women include “girl athlete”, “woman doctor”, “lady guard”, and “working wives”.
For men who enter traditionally female jobs such as “male nurses”, “male nannies”, or “male
secretaries”.
• The perception of women as immature. Women may be labeled as darling” or “baby” by those who do
not know them, making them appear childlike or juvenile.
• The objectification, or likening to objects, of women. By being called “honey”, “sweets”, or “chick”,
women become devalued, especially if they are in an environment that merits formality such as the
workplace.

QUIZ
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Directions: Answer the following questions:

1. Why is language important?

2. In what ways can language be used to discriminate?
3. Of all the top three communication strengths, what particular statement applies to you?
Why?
4. Based on your experiences, what communication styles work for you? and Why? You may also
provide ideas and experiences that are not stated in the given samples.

Assessment

Research the lyrics of your favorite rap song that speaks to or about women. How are women
portrayed in this song? What words are used to describe men and women? What verbs are used to discuss
them? If there is a music video, how are men and women portrayed? How would you write a more gender-
fair version of this song? Does it still work?

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Resources

Goman, Carol Kinsey (November 09, 2020). “The Silent Language of Leaders: How Body Language Can
Help – or Hurt – How You Lead.” The impact of body language on leadership effectiveness is a topic she
addresses in keynote speeches and seminars on “Power of Collaborative Leadership”. Retrieved from
https://www.commpro.biz/gender-differences-in-workplace-communication/

Rodriguez, Agustin M. G. and Rodriguez, Ara Marie L., (2019). Gender and Society. C & E
Publishing Inc., 839 EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City. Philippines

Macionis, John J., (2012). Sociology, 14th Edition. Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd. Jurong, Singapore
629733

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