Gendered Language and Cultural Identity

In a streetcar named desire- emagazine -

Samuel Tapp
Studying English at University (englishandmedia.co.uk)

 Williams decrostructs the concept of feminity through

o the set
o In the manipulation of language

“However, we should also consider both leading roles as victims of their gendered
languages and social norms.”

 All people are victims of socitel norms, we are shaped by our surroundings
o This can be seen in a play since the surroundings are a set.
 The concept on gendered language is driven into us as small children, so can we consider
upbringing and hence social class in this narritve?...

“expletives and obscenities

'empty' adjectives

precise colour terms

lexical hedges

'superpolite' forms

'hypercorrect' grammar.”

Certain parts of the speech described, defy gendered language, for example “Expletives” would be
considered an unladylike use of language. This discounts the concept of gendered language.
However, the characters (Blanche and Stanley) do simultaneously comply with the gendered
language, through Blanche’s use of ‘superpoliteness’ this conveys the disregard had for the pressure
of gendered language.