5.1 Conclusion
Based on the data analysis and findings presented in the chapter four, there are two general types of sexism in English language that is sexism in words and sexism in proverbs. A brief simple explanation of the classification is as following:
1. Sexism in words. Sexism in words is divided into these following items:
a) Sexism in words using man as generic noun that is noun referring to both men and women, such as fellow men and manmade.
b) Sexism in words using he/him/his as generic pronouns that are pronouns referring to both men and women.
c) Sexism in words using suffixes –man, –ette and -ess in occupational terms and job titles, such as manager, railwaymen, trackmen, signalmen.
d) Sexism in words using English pairs of words showing non parallel term between men and women.
2. Sexism in proverbs
Sexism in proverbs was also found in this research, such as man proposes, God disposes. Proverb is the condensation of the language; therefore, it is difficult to create other alternative proverbs which are gender neutral.
Other practices of sexist languages are also found in this research in the use of generic words based on gender. Commonly, the generic words based on
75
gender are associated with the stereotype of women in the culture of the society. The words found in this research such as mother tongue, house wife, Mother Nature, and so on strongly create the stereotype of women. Although there is term house husband, house wife is still widely used to refer to the responsible person to handle the house works.
The sexist languages are used in Tempo's columns by several ways. To generalize the context where the subjects are referred to both men and women, the sexist language is used by using the word man which is absolutely male term. The sexist language is also used in this column by judging that the unidentified sex subjects are referred to men, and therefore uses masculine pronouns as the generic pronouns. In addition, this column uses the sexist language in occupational nouns and job titles to differentiate men and women by the use of the suffix -man, -ette, and –ess. The last is that the sexist language is also used in this column by discriminating women in the use of the non parallel terms.
However, it is not necessary to differentiate men and women, especially in term of the language use. As stated in An Nisa: 124 that men and women have the same opportunities to fail or succeed based on their efforts.
☺
⌦
☺
"And whoever does good deeds whether male or female and he (or she) is a believer--these shall enter the garden, and they shall not be dealt with a jot unjustly"
The biological difference between men and women which in turn affects the roles of both men and women is only a matter of balancing and a fair
distribution between what the individual have and what responsibilities the individual have to fulfill, and it cannot be a justification to discriminate one of God creatures. As stated in An Nisa: 32
☺
☺
⌧ ☺
"And do not covet that by which Allah has made some of you excel others; men shall have the benefit of what they earn and women shall have the benefit of what they earn; and ask Allah of His grace; surely Allah knows all things"
5.2 Suggestion
Language is universal; for all human beings without exceptions and without distinctions. Using a language without regard to the gender classification is expected to minimize the woman discrimination in the language. The existence of the sexist language has suggested linguists and feminists to neutralize the sexist language by using gender neutral language even to reformulate by establishing new terms substituting the old terms. It means that the sexist language impacts on the language change. The use of Ms without regard to the marital status of woman to balance the use of Mr is one of the examples. I suggest that the next researchers conduct the research of this phenomena; the sexist language in relation to the language change.
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