(This is an example of the kind of threaded exchange you can find at http://linguistlist.org/~ask-ling/ , the URL for the "Ask a Linguist" section of the Linguist List (http://linguistlist.org).  Anyone can log on and ask anything they want about language and linguistics. A group of volunteer linguistics profs around the word log on regularly and do their best to handle the questions. This particular question about "feminist linguistics" was answered by Suzette  Haden-Elgin, among others. The format on the original page is a threaded discussion that  you can see by, first, going to http://linguistlist.org/~ask-ling/  ; then, use their "search the  archives" bar, type in "feminist linguistics", and search the top choice, "from 1997-to-present". You will get the entire thread --that is, the rest of the answers from others linguists--  from which this extracted. --Jeff Matthews)
 
 

>From: Regina Siew <weiskram@mbox2.singnet.com.sg>

>I would like to know more about feminist linguistics.
 

You know, I don't think that there really is any such thing as "feminist
linguistics" per se, although the media may have used that phrase. (And
others on the panel may disagree with me about this.)  Many linguists --
including linguists who may view feminism as frivolous, or worse -- do
research regarding differences in language behavior that appear to be
correlated with differences in sexual gender; sometimes the correlation
turns out to be something that can plausibly be called causation, sometimes
not. Often the results are contradictory and confusing. (An example would
be an investigation into whether men or women interrupt other speakers more often in conversation in a particular language, or whether men or women are more likely to try to use "correct" language.) Some linguists use the term "gendrolinguistics" for this linguistic subfield.

Within the field of  academic feminism -- which does not have an
established separate linguistics component -- there are a number of
hypotheses under perennial investigation. For example: that existing human
languages are inadequate to express the perceptions of women, so that women constitute what is called a "muted" group.  For example: that male/female language behavior differences are the result of gender differences. For example: that male/female language behavior differences have little to do with gender and are the result of power differences. For example: that changes in attitudes toward women can (or alternatively, cannot) be brought about by changes in language.  And so on.... These are strictly speaking hypotheses in feminism -- not hypotheses in linguistics -- in which language plays a large part. There is a certain amount of overlap, of
course, because some linguists are feminists, and they may do research  and
writing in both areas.

Some of the names you would look for to read about this field are Robin
Lakoff, Deborah Tannen,  Suzette Haden Elgin, Cheris Kramarae, Sally
McConnell-Ginet,  and Dale Spender. (You might also look at some of the
linguistic experimentation in the work of Mary Daly.) Their bibliographies
would lead you to numerous others in the field. Be sure to check the titles
of the work, however, because they also publish work that has little or
nothing to do with the interaction between language and gender.

Suzette Haden Elgin
ocls@ipa.net