Publication Date
4-25-2021
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
First Advisor
Cady, Kate
Degree Name
B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)
Legacy Department
Department of Communication
Abstract
This research project seeks to identify and analyze the expectations placed on male and female communication as it relates to sex, one area in which communication is highly important. In order to identify these expectations, a survey was distributed to current students at Northern Illinois University asking them to label a series of 30 sexual phrases related to asserting sexual boundaries, stating sexual desires, and asking for consent as being expected to be said by someone who is definitely a man, likely a man, equally likely to be a man or a woman, likely a woman, or definitely a woman. Each response was then coded with a number such that definitely a woman = -2, likely a woman = -1, equally likely to be a man or a woman = 0, likely a man = 1, and definitely a man = 2. All responses for every question were added together in order to assess the final masculine or feminine perceptions of each phrase. The more negative the final sum corresponding to a phrase, the more feminine the phrase was perceived; the more positive the sum, the more masculine the phrase was perceived. Results indicate that phrases asserting a sexual boundary that are perceived as feminine always include language ‘softeners” – phrases that indicate tentativeness or politeness. However, statements of sexual desire and questions of consent featuring expletives or language ‘softeners’ are not unequally expected of men or women. The expectation for women to incorporate politeness or tentativeness into asserting sexual boundaries may disadvantage women and make their sexual rejections less likely to be respected.
Recommended Citation
Miller, Claire C., "Perceptions of 'Ladylike' Language: Assessing Gender Barriers to Sex Communication" (2021). Honors Capstones. 876.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/studentengagement-honorscapstones/876
Extent
16 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
