Women, in a man's world!
Language is an expression of culture and part of it. It is an expression of shared assumptions and transmits implicit values. Syed Neaz Ahmad examines the attitude toward women held by some members of society which unfortunately becomes part of the experience of all.
The publication of towards the end of the last century was an indication of the kind of interest that has been generated in language as a loaded weapon.
But language is also an expression of culture and part of it. It is an expression of shared assumptions and transmits implicit values. When for example, according to Jane Mills, such ordinary words for a female person as 'woman' or 'girl' acquire the additional commonly understood meanings of 'mistress', an attitude towards women held by some members of society becomes part of the experience of all.
Over the years women have been described - by men of course - as animals like: Birds, chick, crow, cow; or clothing like petticoat, skirt and bluestocking; as container like bag, dish and honey-pot; as a deceiver like coquette, cute, Delilah, glamor, Jezebel and witch - the list is pretty exhaustive.
They say a man is as old as he feels and a woman is as old as she looks. But despite icons like Kate Middleton, Hillary Clinton, Sonia Gandhi, Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda Zia and Angela Merkel - be it Asia, Europe or America - there hasn't been much of a change in men-women relationship. Walking one step behind his wife, the Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phililp hasn't helped feminism as he has generated resentment among macho men.
Words like 'baby' or 'bint' do not inspire much respect but one does detect a similarity of endearment in both the expressions. states that 'baby' is used for anything which is an object of special attention or masculine admiration. The ultimate in terms for a woman considered to be extraordinarily attractive is 'baby-doll'.
There are scores of cat-related words that describe women and their attitudes. The word 'cat' had noble origins but over the centuries it has acquired extremely negative connotations when associated with women. And Disney's Tom & Jerry hasn't helped improve the image - some say it's poisoning the young minds!
The 1811 edition of reveals several derogatory uses of 'cat'. However, 'hop-cat' is a man who dresses in the latest style - peacocks of today - and runs no negative undercurrents.
According to a Japanese proverb women and sparrows twitter in each other's company. In the East, society is more patriarchal but when it comes to ancient
wisdom, things are not much different in the West either, as is evident from a Spanish proverb: Men speak but women chat. Chat, chatter and chitchat like the
term girl's talk, Sheila-talk, hen-party, prattle, babble, gossip, and finally twitter are all words which are used to denigrate women and devalue their 'useful' verbal interactions.
Blame it on sexism or whatever the has no entry for 'Eve', the first mother. However, it does list 'Adam' , the first man, father of human race. But does not discriminate and explains the word as 'Middle English, after Eve, the first woman, a woman having qualities typically associated with womankind'.
An example from further illustrates: An effortlessly feminine creature whose personal career never interferes with her role as a charming eternal Eve. This perhaps lifts the veil from the intriguing fact why on the Indian subcontinent making passes is called 'eve teasing'!
From madam to mistress to Miss, Mrs and Ms, there is a complete spectrum of sense, nonsense and vulgarity. There is an anonymous rhyme in which represents the dilemma that today's most young - or at least young looking - ladies find themselves in:
When you call me Miss or Mrs,
You invade my private life,
For, it's not public's business,
If I am, or was, a wife!
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