Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site oddjob.UChicago.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!cbosgd!ihnp4!gargoyle!oddjob!london From: london@oddjob.UChicago.UUCP (David London) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: girl/woman Message-ID: <464@oddjob.UChicago.UUCP> Date: Sun, 30-Sep-84 00:33:03 EDT Article-I.D.: oddjob.464 Posted: Sun Sep 30 00:33:03 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 26-Sep-84 05:34:49 EDT Organization: U. Chicago: Astronomy & Astrophysics Lines: 29 <> There is more to the woman/girl question than simply politeness (although I believe it can be argued successfully even on that level). The fact is : LANGUAGE IS POWER. And English is a very connotative language. So the word "girl" conjures up images of dependancy, a poorly developed mind, someone inferior (or at least not fully developed). And even if you personally don't consciously think of these images, the use of 'girl' in place of 'woman' just reinforces these ideas among those who do. You don't believe that the language you use can have this effect? Black men were called 'boy' for the same reason - whites want to reinforce these ideas among themselves AND AMONG BLACKS. Whites wanted blacks to believe that they were inferior. And it worked. Many people have noted the "inferiority complex of the oppressed" that seems to pervade black society (and other oppressed peoples). For instance, whites use 'nigger' as a derogatory term. And blacks use the term among themselves (!), indicating that, at some deep level, they really believe themselves inferior. So, the fact that many women don't mind the use of 'girl' (in fact, they use it themselves), just indicates that they believe (to a greater or lesser degree) the images evoked by the word 'girl'. Here's another one: a 'working woman' is used to describe someone who works at a job outside the home. The obvious implication is that a woman who stays at home, raises the children, keeps up the household, etc., is not working. This is just another way that (male) society tries to diminishe the importance of women and their own self-worth. David London ..!ihnp4!oddjob!london