Think of three adjectives we typically use to describe women and three adjectives used to describe men, and then list them. Answer these questions:
1.What do you notice about the words we use to describe men and women?
2.How does our language reinforce stereotypical notions about men and women?
Then, think about the words we use to designate men and women (come up with three words for each, men and women), and list them. Try to think of parallel names for men and women (example: Women = Slut, Men = Stud), and consider the profanities used. Answer these questions:
1.What do you notice about the terms we use to name men and women?
2.What is the significance of the words for which you could not find parallels?
3.How do you think language plays a role in shaping the ways we think about and "do" gender?
Then, answer these last questions for Chapter 3:
1.What words does the dominant culture use to describe transgender, genderqueer, gender nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people?
2.How can transgender, genderqueer, gender nonbinary, and gender nonconforming thinking and experiences disrupt essentialist language about gender?
Sample Solution