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Lady, Girl, Female, or Woman

Sexism and Cognitive Busyness Predict Use of Gender-Biased Nouns

Tulane University

Janet B. Ruscher

Tulane University, ruscher{at}tulane.edu

Two studies investigated whether modern sexism predicts men’s use of gender-biased terms for women. When established norms suggest a preference for neutral terms (e.g., woman, female), men lower in sexism should avoid potentially biased terms (e.g., lady, girl). Adhering to such an established norm, however, may require conscious effort. In Study 1, men lower in modern sexism used fewer gender-biased terms in a written format than did men higher in modern sexism. Study 2 replicated this result using an oral format but only when men were not cognitively busy with another task. Cognitive busyness apparently interfered with low modern sexists’ efforts to use more neutral terms. Implications for other forms of gender-biased language, as well as for long-term change in the use of gender-biased language, are discussed.

Key Words: sexism • gender bias • gender stereotyping • automaticity • sexist language

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