THE OUTLOOK ON THE GENDER INCLUSIVE LANGUAGES 

Zeynep Gizem Emir

Middle East Technical University

         
Sexist language is language that is in favor of one sex, whereas it discriminates the other sex. In most cultures, the bias is in favor of men and against women. That's why you will see mostly the slangs that are derived from the femininity. I am particularly pointing to it because I don't want some of you judge my paragraph without being not knowledgeable enough on the relationship between language and gender. :)

  Perception of these words can differentiate from person to person, so we wish the words like doll, fıstık, las esposas, kura domowa, minikin, le sexe faible, tart and so are intented to be used as the terms of endearment. Below, you will see the words whose meaning can change because of the different types of cognition. No one perceives the same! 

While a group of people thinks that "doll" is a compliment showing that the female is pretty, other group thinks that males try to objectify the females by labelling them with "the doll". Woow guys, now you are on the edge of a sharp cliff and think the space between the ground and the piece of solid that you are standing on! Feel the gap coz there are many cognition ways here. If one says you "a doll", firstly think about who said it. Assume that it is your BF, are you sure of that he says it as he likes you/ he finds you beautiful, or does the use of "the doll" have a politic meaning? If it is the latter, it is most probably that your boyfriend is with you because of your beauty. Take care yourself because he will leave you alone when you lose your beauty. What an annoying way of thinking it is! 

                                                     Doll   

                           

Doll is an English word which can be perceived in two different ways. 

Meaning 1#: A term of endearment used to talk about/to a pretty girl. (Urban Dictionary)

Meaning 2#: A toy that can be a property for someone. (A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen)

What do you think about this word's meaning? Go to the bottom of the page, fill out the questionnaire and share your cognition with us! 

               

                                Kura Domowa

Kura Domowa is a Polish word which can be perceived in two different ways.

Meaning 1#: Housewife

Meaning 2#: Home's hen - but its like 'women 
who only spend time in kitchen, clean and do all 
household chores alone'. 


While some people think that being a kura domowa is one of the requirements of being a woman, other group thinks that it is offensive because woman should have rights to do whatever she wants as men do.

What do you think about this word's meaning? 

Go to the bottom of the page, fill out the questionnaire and share your opinion with us!

                                                       Fıstık

Fıstık is a Turkish word which can be perceived in two different ways.

Meaning 1#: Peanut 

Meaning 2#: Men say it for the "hot girls" in slang. It means "chick, hottie". 

While some men use the term for referring to a very beautiful woman, other group (mostly composed of females) is disturbed. 

Are women nuts or just a simple form of creature as men are? OR

If the women are peanuts, can the men be cashew?

Think it! There is a hidden message. I hope you will be more careful with the use of language.  :) 

What do you think about this word's (fıstık) meaning? Go to the bottom of the page, fill out the questionnaire and share your opinion with us!

                             Las Esposas

Las esposas is a Spanish word which has two different meanings.

Meaning 1#: handcuffs

Meaning 2#: wives

Did you feel the same thing with me?

I think "las esposas" is a word that is created by the men who believe their wives constrain them. If you ask me, las esposas is a connotation for wives, whereas it is a denotation for handcuffs.  

What do you think about this word's meaning? Go to the bottom of the page, fill out the questionnaire and share your cognition with us!

                                                                          

                             Le sexe faible
Le sexe faible is a French word which can be perceived in two different ways.

Meaning 1#: a sex that should be cared much.

Meaning 2#: physically weak, a sex that can easily be overwhelmed.

What do you try to mean? Think the females who take taekwando lessons, and hook it the places where they are. 


What do you think about this word's meaning? Go to the bottom of the page, fill out the questionnaire and share your opinion with us!

                                              Zorba

Zorba is a Greek name! As a person who is living in Turkey, I perceive "zorba" in a different way. In our language zorba means "autocratic person", and this adjective mostly attributes to males because of their physical superiority (By using the word "superiority", I just focus on the general idea. For me, women can be more physically superior than men with enough practice). As for Greek, "zorba" is one of the most often used as a male name.  

There is an international cognition difference! 

What do you think about this word's meaning? Go to the bottom of the page, fill out the questionnaire and share your opinion with us!

                                   

Devushka

Devushka is a Russian word which can be perceived in two different ways.

It means single woman.

Why is a woman's marital status that much important while a man's is not. If one's mentality does not allow a married woman to date with another male, it should not let men do the same thing, as well. 

Do you feel disturbed? Go to the bottom of the page and fill out the questionnaire and share your opinion with us!

Minikin

Minikin is a Dutch word which can be perceived in two different ways.

Many Dutch people attribute to delicate women with this word. From my perspective, it is sexism since not only females are delicate, but also the males are. I think it is like the issue of likening women to flower in Turkey. Some women do not want to be likened a plant. We are women! Not a flower, not an object!

Do you feel disturbed? Go to the bottom of the page and fill out the questionnaire. Share your opinion with us!

Mačka

Mačka is a Bosnian word which has two different meanings.

Meaning 1#: a cat

Meaning 2# : a hot girl (in slang)

Do you feel disturbed? Go to the bottom of the page and fill out the questionnaire and share your opinion with us!

Gulamı

Gulamı is a Zazaki word which can be used in two different contexts.

Context 1#: Rose

Context 2#: My rose (a term of endearment) 

Do you feel disturbed? Go to the bottom of the page and fill out the questionnaire and share your opinion with us!

Don't you want to share your opinions! I wonder how you think! Please go to commentaries part and copy the link. The questionnaire will only take your 60 seconds :)