239981 Theorizing Gender: Linguistic Aspects (S) (SoSe 2014)

Gender is one of the chief axes along which inequalities of power are organized. As a principle of classifying human beings, gender is a universal, all-pervasive characteristic of society. The concept denotes both the knowledge of sexual difference and the social organization of that difference.

Language and gender is a particularly dynamic and interdisciplinary area of research within the larger study of language and society. In this course we will look at the richness and diversity in recent research in the area. We will look at the co-variation of language and gender and thus address questions such as: Do women and men speak differently? This will imply looking at the causes and consequences of linguistic gender differences, for instance in class-room settings. Furthermore, we will also look at the relationship between language and sexism and the role of women in language change.

In order to demonstrate at least some of the multifariousness of gender, there are four courses on offer that theorize gender from a linguistic, literary and cultural studies perspective. Students are strongly encouraged to enrol in at least one further course from these fields.