Different Aspects of Language
Alex Nachreiner
Ms. Murphey
English Comp. 201
October 12, 2010 Different Aspects of Language
Why is it that people generally stereotype women as emotional and caring? Why are men characterized as competitive and strong-willed? Many people believe the reasoning for these stereotypes can be determined by the language men and women use towards each other. Typically, men have interesting facts or information to add to a conversation, while women enjoy sharing and taking turns with others to demonstrate how they are the same. Today, many people perceive men and women in different stereotypical ways and mannerisms. In an episode of That 70’s Show, one of many female and male language stereotypes is examined when Eric and Donna fight over who should be the stay at home parent. The episode, “Baby Fever” demonstrates the use of language in mixed gender situations. The show portrays women and men in different conversations either acting out against or embracing typical behavior. The show describes the general view of men and women in the 1970s versus the more open-minded view in the 2000s. Since That 70’s Show takes place 30 years ago, a cultural difference allows people of modern time to view this show with certain assumptions about women and men that people back in the 70s did not have. This episode helps people identify and interpret men’s and women’s typical and atypical use of language. That 70’s Show takes place in a small Wisconsin town called Point Place in the late 1970s. The story follows the lives of six teenage friends and their struggles through high school and relationships. In the 1970’s, people thought of women as stay at home parents while men would go and work and make the money. In this episode, three main conflicts develop relating different language use between men and women. Each storyline depicts men and women using typical and atypical language based on people’s general stereotype of how mixed genders generally act around each
Ms. Murphey
English Comp. 201
October 12, 2010 Different Aspects of Language
Why is it that people generally stereotype women as emotional and caring? Why are men characterized as competitive and strong-willed? Many people believe the reasoning for these stereotypes can be determined by the language men and women use towards each other. Typically, men have interesting facts or information to add to a conversation, while women enjoy sharing and taking turns with others to demonstrate how they are the same. Today, many people perceive men and women in different stereotypical ways and mannerisms. In an episode of That 70’s Show, one of many female and male language stereotypes is examined when Eric and Donna fight over who should be the stay at home parent. The episode, “Baby Fever” demonstrates the use of language in mixed gender situations. The show portrays women and men in different conversations either acting out against or embracing typical behavior. The show describes the general view of men and women in the 1970s versus the more open-minded view in the 2000s. Since That 70’s Show takes place 30 years ago, a cultural difference allows people of modern time to view this show with certain assumptions about women and men that people back in the 70s did not have. This episode helps people identify and interpret men’s and women’s typical and atypical use of language. That 70’s Show takes place in a small Wisconsin town called Point Place in the late 1970s. The story follows the lives of six teenage friends and their struggles through high school and relationships. In the 1970’s, people thought of women as stay at home parents while men would go and work and make the money. In this episode, three main conflicts develop relating different language use between men and women. Each storyline depicts men and women using typical and atypical language based on people’s general stereotype of how mixed genders generally act around each