UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

Facultad de Filosofa y Humanidades

Departamento de Lingstica
English Language II: Written Discourse 2016

These are students real written reactions to an article by an antifeminist journalist, who
explained his astonishment at seeing how eager women are to be linguistically included
when it comes to terms with positive connotations (chairwoman and firewoman over
chairman and fireman). In contrast, women do not seem worried about feminine uses for,
e.g., gunman, since this word has a rather negative connotation, situation the author
considers unequal on the part of, no less, people who look for equality.
TEXT 1: Sexist language
During the last decade we could see important changes in our lives, for instance
technological changes, educational changes etc, but one of the most important changes
occurs during the last years and that is the role that women play in our society. We can see
that in Everywhere, for instance, today women have better jobs than before, today women
can apply for better salaries than years ago. The best example of this is that now in our
country we have a presidenta. One of the best ways to represent all these changes is the
language that we use everyday. for instance we use the word presidenta and not prrsidente
mujer referring to Michelle Bachelet. But that happened because women have been fighting
for a change during years. for this reason I agree with feminists because they are fighting for
our rights, for our freedom. Maybe sometimes they are wrong or they dont know how to
express their ideas, but they have good intentions and we need to start with something.
Because if we want to be treat as men, with the same opportunities, without discrimination,
we need representation and feminists do what they can do! And if we disagree that, we
should be involved in that work.
TEXT 2: Sexist changes in language nowadays.
Male or Female distinctions in language use is the issue proposed by Peter Zohrab. to
discuss. Thie change or specification of some words that feminists are appealed is perhaps
necessary to make a fair distinction among men and women, but I think it is not that
important, it is not such a big issue to be concerned, as the author says and I agree with him.
Feminists sometimes are to involved to the subject, and to demonstrate a sort of equality and
even more, superiority. they have created their own kind of discrimination so that the more
they (we) enforced distinctions, the more we create a curb which will not be franqueable

these changes, as are sentenced in a paragraph, seem to be a waste of time, effort and
money () why to think about this if there are more important topics and problems to
discuss about inequality nowadays?
Anyway, we can use language as we want, it is not prescriptive, nobody has established a set
of big dictionary about how we have to use words; Tha way it seems to be ridiculous and
nonsense thats why the members of the broadcasting founds the appeals
made by peter Zohrab quite strange and obviously it was refused.
Personally, I dont feel discriminated by men if words have negative overtones against female
words; my position in society will not change if a word that identifies my gender or my
occupation changes or not, it does not really affect its essence.
The important matter is how you contributes and how it helps society regarding the name that
that is already given to it.
It is true, on the other hand, that some words could change but not because they cause some
discrimination or denigrate the female gender, but because we have to clarify activities and
how are used for and by whom, what Im against is the reason that is sentenced.
If women get some job of chairperson, for instance, it is just because they have demonstrated
their able to, and their capacity is not given by the title, it is not the form which is important but
the content which is more significant, and other wise, words dont chang as easily as w
feminists propose, it is a big process, slow; and it involves time.
And in the last instances, feminists movements do really represent all women? Certainly not. I
feel their appeals sort of unfair, and in a way they attempt against my right of expressing my
own ideas.
I dont feel identified by feminists claims just because I dont feel myself for it. Their
demandings are fairly exaggerated and it seems to be questionable. Certainly, it isnt that
men have to rule world, either, it is just I feel comfortable with how language is given. , and it
doesnt really affect me. I can live with it.
Finally, I think that nobody has really been trying to denigrate women or men by the use of
words or language. it is perhaps a casual used, far fetched to be discuss in a way; and if the
changes work and are done, feminists will be not quiet either, another problem will be found
and there will be another battle to fight against man they really like it in that way