Gendered Slang / Language

                I would have to agree with the fact that our colloquialisms and language are gendered.  Some of the words used in today’s society have different meanings then what they were originally used to describe. Now several words are used to describe an individual, reference, degrade, insult, and even appraise them. Furthermore, it has become a routine part of our speech with peers, teachers, and family members.  Several words have started as slang but with constant use in conversation, have become a part of the Oxford Dictionary.  Slang is always changing and evolving based on media, television, movies, trends, and eras. 

               
              Several examples that are used include when speaking with friends include: “bro,” “dude,” “man,” and “bud.” All the words listed are used to reference a friend.  However, several words that are used now to degrade someone include: “dick,” “douche,” “pussy,” and “bitch.”  These words are all intended to stand for something else but have adapted into our society to offend someone.  Males get irritated when they are called them because it is used to compare them to having female qualities and that they are not a real man.

                For girls, common used slang include: “bitch,” “ho,” “chick,” and “babe.”  These are common used terms in today’s society that have become a part of everyday speech.  Many people reference others using these words, not realizing how degrading or offensive the words truly are.  Offensive language can include: “slut,” “skank,” “whore,” and “dime.”  As degrading as these words are, people are using them without hesitation.  If you walk around your neighborhood, campus, or even the market, people are saying the words as common language.

                According to the article in the Huffington Post, "Slang Words: What are Young People Saying These Days?," the article states that social media is another venue for which people can express slang.  By using Twitter or Facebook, people are interacting with each other, all in an attempt to get catchphrases and mix of words trending.    

                Decades ago, many words did not have gendered meanings.  It just goes to show how far language has changed and now has gendered connotation. 

Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/12/19/slang-words-2012_n_2322664.html

All in the Family

            A “nuclear family” is defined as a family consisting of a husband, wife, and children.  Usually, the husband is the primary income earner while the woman ussumes the role of care giver.  She would be responsible for taking care of the children and maintaining the house whether it be cleaning, cooking, or organizing.  This view of the family has become the norm for the American society.  However, today, there are many different types of families.  It is not the norm to have a “nuclear family” in American society.  To start, there are many families that have dual working parents.  The financial burden has forced both parents to pursue a career that will help support the family.  In addition, the recession has caused many parents to lose their jobs.  As a result, husbands are getting more involved in the day-to-day chores of the household.  Although this is starting to replace the old view of a family, the world is also facing changes with gay and lesbian couples.  It is common for a child to have two dads or moms.  Furthermore, families are getting divorced and the former husbands and wives are making ends meet while no longer living with one another.  Overall, it is difficult to say which family style the norm in today’s society is.   

            In the article “Dad-Mom Role Reversals” by Sara Eckel, she explains that many fathers are having a difficult time coping with the change in roles. For a father who was the primary wage earner to change his duties throughout the day from work to household chores as a result of being laid off, he is going to have some difficulties.  I come from a family where my father is the primary wage earner and works ten hour days.  Therefore, he does not have as much time to help with the household chores and family bearing responsibilities.  My mother wanted to raise her children as we were growing up so she had a part time job.  Although today she has a full working week because her children are older now, she still completes the household chores.  If somehow the roles were reversed, my dad would face difficulties adjusting to his new role, similar to the fathers in the article.  

Source: http://www.workingmother.com/2010/2/home/dad-mom-role-reversals  

Music Videos Imagery and Lyrics

            In today’s generation of music, it is very common to see music videos that reverse or challenge gender roles. Pop artists such as Lady Gaga have continually attempted to challenge the cultural norms of our society.  Her career has been met with large amount of appraisal and success but in the same instance, with criticism and disgust.  However, many other artists are continuing to challenge gender roles.  Two such music videos that come to mind are “So What” by Pink and “Self Esteem” by Offspring.

"So What" by Pink    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJfFZqTlWrQ 

"Self Esteem" by Offspring    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkFH0KMO0G0

            “So What” by Pink challenges gender roles because within the video, Pink shows some masculine traits that are not usually associated with women.  When I first watched the video, the one line that stood out to me was: “I’m gonna get in trouble, I wanna start a fight!”  This stood out to me because women usually are not physical or combative like males.  Throughout the whole video, Pink attempts to be free and rebellious after her husband has left.  She wants to start her life all over again and acts destructive.  Several characteristics that challenge gender roles are when Pink was riding a tractor and later, a motorcycle.  Usually males are viewed to ride a motorcycle because it goes with their gritty and tough appearance.  In addition, Pink is seen with a chainsaw and is cutting down a tree with a heart and two names craved into the trunk.  Women are not usually associated with yard work or labor like cutting down trees.  Furthermore, while at a guitar store, Pink is shown playing the guitar and eventually smacking it into the ground.  Once again, this is evidence of her rebellious behavior that reverses the normal gender roles for our society.  Later in the video, Pink chest bumps the guitar store worker in way that shows she does not care about the destruction she has caused or any consequences that may be coming her way.   

            Overall, Pink is transforming gender ideologies.  Along with her rebellious and masculine actions, Pink’s outfits are in contrast to the typical gender stereotypes that our society has come to form.

            While “So What” challenges gender roles, “Self Esteem” by Offspring reverses gender roles.  The lyrics that stand out are, “I took her back and made her dessert / Now I know I’m being used / That’s ok man cause I like the abuse / I know she’s playing with me / That’s ok cause I’ve got no self-esteem.”  The lyrics hint that the male is cooking and taking care of the woman while the woman is abusing and taking advantage of the male.  The male allows it to happen because he has no self-esteem.  In our society, it is usually the female that handles the cooking for the partner.  In addition, the low self-esteem trait commonly afflicts young women more than men.  Throughout our society, it is men that have the overbearing and controlling demeanor over women.  Thus, the gender roles have been reversed in this music video.

            Moreover, another set of lyrics that reverse gender roles is: “Late at night she knocks on my door / Drunk again and looking to score / Now I know I should say no / But that’s kind of hard when she’s ready to go.”  This behavior is more commonly associated with males instead of females.  We usually believe that males are the one’s getting drunk and chasing after women.  As a result, this music video has given the woman all the masculine characteristics while the man displays all the insecure and feminine characteristics.

Thus, it is evident that gender roles are continually being challenged in music videos.

YouTube, I Tube, We all Tube

In American society, the gender roles for having a baby are usually held that the mom is the stay at home parent that cares for the child and completes household chores.  The dad, on the other hand, continues working to have an income for the family.  These gender roles have been common since the 1950s and have become the norm for American society.  However, within the past three years, there has been a shift from stay at home moms to stay at home dads.  Referencing Louisa Peacock’s and Sam Marsden’s article titled “Rise in stay-at-home fathers fuelled by growing numbers of female breadwinners,” official employment statistics has shown that men now make up 10 percent of those who care for children while their partner goes to work.  “There were 227,000 men staying at home to look after family between September and November last year, a rise of 19,000 compared to the same period in 2011 and the highest increase since figures began in 1993.”  Experts suggest that the shift is being caused by men losing their jobs to the recent recession and have either failed to attain a new job or have not pursued a new job due to their partner having a well-paid job. 

 

Mom and Huggies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3UWNP89jcQ           

In the two videos I have posted, the first video shows the mom staying home and caring for the child.  She will handle all the household chores and jobs that will have to be completed to care for her baby throughout the day. I believe the target audience for this video is for mothers-to-be or current mothers of young children. In addition, I believe it is effective reaching this target audience because mothers can relate to the commercial. Huggies promotes their product as "Huggies Makes Babies Happy." Although the slogan says very little about the quality of the product, Huggies has been a reliable brand since 1978. Mothers can be confident in purchasing the product and providing the best diaper for their child based on numerous years of research into the most comfortable, flexible, and absorptive diapers in the market.    

Dad and Huggies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3hwcqY7yUw

The second video shows numerous dads staying home to handle the household chores and care for their baby.  Although the American society is starting to see a change in the number of stay at home dads, these videos defy the general gender roles that have become the norm of this society.The second video’s target audience is fathers of young children who have been laid off or are having difficulty finding a job. I also find this video to be effective in reaching the target audience.  This is due to the fact that Huggies is raising the awareness that stay at home dads are on the rise. Although it has been the norm that the father is the primary earner or provider for the house, Huggies is attempting to change the minds of all Americans. It is common to see several husbands be insecure or have difficulty grasping the fact that they may not be working and have to rely on the other partner to be the household earner. This commercial aims to justify that it is acceptable to be a father and not be the primary wage earner.

Furthermore, our culture is becoming more accepting of gay marriages. In this case, I think the commercial also targets gay male couples that have adopted a child. One will be the stay at home care taker, while the other continues to work. Therefore, the commercial is effective in reaching this target audience as well.    

Sources:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/9822271/Rise-in-stay-at-home-fathers-fuelled-by-growing-numbers-of-female-breadwinners.html