"Why do I make less than my male co-stars?"-Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence relatively recently published a post, onto the social networking site Facebook, discussing her personal experience in being paid less than male co-workers, and to bring attention to on-going sexism and expectations of women.

The purpose of this post may also be to generate debate in a large public space, and possibly to entertain, as she brings a light-hearted humour, by, for example using taboo, to a very serious subject that still shadows a whole gender in today's day and age.

There are a variety of male and female language features in this text, used to explain stereotypical views of both genders;

Male language features;

Men didn't worry about coming across as 'difficult' or 'spoiled', this signifies arrogance and confidence, as they do not care to worry about how others perceive them.

Jennifer explains how after frankly expressing her opinion to a male who worked for her, he retaliated with, "Whoa! We're all on the same team here". This male feels instantly belittled when a woman expressing something in a strong way to him, by retaliating, he tries to show dominance and raise himself above Jennifer Lawrence's level, but also tries to bring himself back up to the same level of the two in a sense by using, "we're, which signifies equality.

"Male's voices are just heard" this signifies respect and how men don't even have to try for respect, they just gain it.

It's also stated that men are possibly commended for being fierce and tactical, as this shows authority and power.

Female language features;

Females don't want to seem 'difficult' or 'spoiled', this may be due to fear of being looked down on and of getting in the way or making a scene.

The aim of female's language is to seem approachable, as stereotypically women are the softer sex, both physically, as in weaker, and emotionally.

Females are supposed to, if expressing their opinions, make it, almost adorable, as if to avoid being patronizing and coming across as too strong.

Jennifer Lawrences rant aside, there are a lot of gender stereotypes still being used today, despite the efforts made by feminists and equality groups, to diminish these stereotypes. When looking at the gender stereotypes, we look at the 3D's.

3D's:

Difference-men and women speak differently.

Dominance-men dominate conversations.

Deficit-opposite of dominance, women are deficit.

Under difference comes the gender stereotypes in language, but in this case, specifically spoken language, for example:

Women gossip

Men are strong and silent

Women talk about domestic&personal trivia

Men talk about important topics( business, money, the government.)

Women have soft and gentle voices

OR

Alternatively have loud, strident voices

Women screech

WHILST

men have rich, deep, reassuring tones-which conveys confidence and authority

And the list goes on...

Under dominance there is a quote that states the dominance approach;

"Sees women as an appressed group, and interprets differences in women's and men's speech in terms of men's dominance and women's subordination.