“Feminist Linguistics”

ENG-428
Lecture 1

“Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

By: Mubashir Husain

Lecturer. Department of ENGLISH
KUST
Topic: Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases

Discussion Agenda
• What is sex

• What is gender

• Difference between sex and gender

• What is gender bias

• What is idiom

• Characteristics of idioms

• What is phrase

• Characteristics of phrase

• Discussion on idioms & phrases

• Gender biased idioms

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

What is sex
the state of being male or female
(Oxford advanced learners dictionary)

whether a person, plant, or animal is male or female

(Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)

sex is those characteristics that are defined biologically.

Sex refers to a set of biological attributes in humans and animals. It is primarily associated with physical and physiological features
(Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

What is gender
Gender is the state of being male or female in relation to the social and
cultural roles that are considered appropriate for men and women.
(COLLINS CO-BUILD)

Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys,
men.

gender is based on the societal constructions and belief systems

(http://sciabc.us/gkb3U)

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

Difference between sex and gender

 Gender is a socially constructed definition of women and men. It is not the same as sex (biological
characteristics of women and men) and it is not the same as women.

 Gender is determined by the conception of tasks, functions and roles attributed to women and men in society
and in public and private life. (Gender in practice. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation)

 sex is the characteristics that are biologically defined, whereas gender is based on socially constructed
features.
(world health organization)

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
 Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

What is Gender bias

 Gender bias is a preference or prejudice toward one gender over the other.

(https://www.diversity.com/page/What-is-Gender-Bias)

 It may be there linguistically because the attribute of language as mirror of society.

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
 Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

What are idioms

 Idiom are an important part of English or any language.
 It is the concise phrase or short sentence which is used by ordinary people in daily life.
 Idiom consists of more than more words.
 The meaning of the whole idiom has some differences with the separate words.

 So it is difficult to find the real meaning from the literal meaning.

 It can make the ordinary word produce magic effect.

 The meaning and structure of English idioms are special and elegant.

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
 Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

Characteristics of idioms

(1) A unity of meaning
.

(2) Fixed structure

Sexism in English Proverbs and Idioms (Yang Zhang) Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 424-429, March 2018

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
 Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

Characteristics of idioms

(1) A unity of meaning

English idioms consists of more than one word.

Every word loses its own original meaning. And they combine with each other to form an entry to express certain meaning.

So we can’t find the real meaning of the whole English idiom,

If we only discriminate the class and meaning of every isolate word. For example, in the following phrase: cap in hand, cap is a noun, in
is a preposition, hand is also a noun.
However, the meaning of the whole phrase is not that one has a cap in hand, it’s real meaning is that someone do something in a very
polite way.
So the whole phrase is used as an adverb.

Sexism in English Proverbs and Idioms (Yang Zhang) Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 424-429, March 2018

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
 Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

Characteristics of idioms
(2) Fixed structure

The construction of English idiom is relatively fixed.

The words which are used to construct English idioms can’t be exchanged by other words.

And the order of the words can’t be changed.

For example, the following idiom: at sixes and sevens can’t be exchanged by at sevens and sixes.

There are many idioms which are non-conformity with the phrase rule, but the structure of them can’t be changed randomly.

There are some other examples: Diamond cut diamond, Money makes the more to go, Rain cats and dogs.

Sexism in English Proverbs and Idioms (Yang Zhang) Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 424-429, March 2018

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

What is phrase
 a small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit

 a group of words that have a particular meaning when used together

 a memorable/catchy phrase

 Traditionally “phrase” is defined as “a group of words that does not contain a verb and its subject and is used as a

single part of speech.”

 ‘Start slowly’ is the key phrase for the first-time marathon runner.

(Oxford English Dictionaries)

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

What is phrase
 ‘Start slowly’ is the key phrase for the first-time marathon runner.

(Oxford English Dictionaries)

 Freedom of speech

 survival of the fittest

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

Characteristics of phrase
 (1) definitions specifies that only a group of words can constitute a phrase, implying that a single word cannot;

 (2) it distinguishes phrases from clauses; and

 (3) it requires that the groups of words believed to be a phrase constitute a single grammatical unit.

Sexism in English Proverbs and Idioms (Yang Zhang) Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 424-429, March 2018

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

4 step Pattern to attempt examples of this question

 (1) Meaning - meaning from any two sources, dictionary or otherwise

 (2) Origin - origin of the complete term , or a noun part of phrase/ idiom is to be given from any source

 (3) How the selected Idiom/phrase is Gendered/ gender biased. Normally in it any masculine
noun is found, due to it feminist object that is sexist. It makes females invisible. In such idiom/ phrase there is no
representation of women.

 (4) suggest a neutral alternative of term. It must contain the sense of term, may be its synonym.
It must be non-sexist.

So follow these four steps to attempt neutralize the selected idiom phrase.

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

common man
 Meaning = ordinary people
The average citizen, as contrasted with the social, political or cultural elite.
(https://en.wiktionary.org/)
the undistinguished commoner lacking class or rank distinction or special attributes

Origin of word common; c. 1300, "belonging to all, owned or used jointly, general, from Latin communis "in common, public, shared by all or many

How gender bias is there; generic noun is part of phrase

Neutral alternative : average person, commoner

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

confidence man

 Meaning; Someone who conducts a confidence game: who defrauds someone after winning someone's trust.
(https://en.wiktionary.org/)

Origin An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

(https://www.dictionary.com/browse/confidence-man)

How gender bias; mention of negative attribute with a male person

Neutral alternative; swindler, crook

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

Americanism

1. a word, expression, or other feature that is characteristic of American English.

2. attachment or allegiance to the traditions, institutions, and ideals of the United States.

(Oxford English Dictionaries)

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

confidence man

 Meaning; Someone who conducts a confidence game: who defrauds someone after winning someone's trust.
(https://en.wiktionary.org/)

Origin An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

(https://www.dictionary.com/browse/confidence-man)

How gender bias; mention of negative attribute with a male person, a sexist approach

Neutral alternative; swindler, crook

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

elder statesman

 Meaning an old and respected politician or former politician whose advice is still valued because of his or her long experience

Origin First recorded in 1900–05

(https://www.dictionary.com/browse/confidence-man)

How gender bias the noun man, attempt to make women invisible in terms of special status of elder statesman like
respect, valued opinions and advices

Neutral alternative senior statesperson

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

favorite son/somebody’s favorite son

 Meaning ​a performer, politician, sports player, etc., who is popular where they were born
 ​(in the US) a candidate for president who is supported by his or her own state in the first part of a campaign
(Oxford English Dictionaries)

 Origin An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

(https://www.dictionary.com/browse/favorite-son?s=ts)

How gender bias Son (a person’s male child), making daughter invisible, denying the enjoyment of celebrity like status, VIP
status

Neutral alternative: favorite candidate

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

founding father

 Meaning (formal) a person who starts or develops a new movement, institution or idea/an originator of an institution or movement

 a member of the group of people who wrote the Constitution of the US in 1787

Origin The best-known Founding Fathers of the US are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John
Adams and James Madison.
(oxford advanced learners dictionary

How gender bias: masculine noun father, superficially implies women cannot be founder of anything, hence less capable.

Neutral alternative: founder

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

gentlemen's agreement

 Meaning an agreement made between people who trust each other, which is not written down and which has no
legal force

Origin The phrase appears in the British parliamentary records in 1821 and in the Massachusetts public records in
1835 The Oxford English Dictionary

How gender bias ? Masculine plural noun

Neutral alternative; unwritten agreement

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

grandfather clause

 Meaning ​part of a new rule or law that does not apply to a particular group of people, allowing them to continue following the old rule or
law
The Oxford English Dictionary

 any legal provision that exempts a business, class of persons, etc., from a new government regulation that would affect prior rights and privileges.

Origin The term originated during the US Civil War era and referred to statutes enacted in the South to suppress African American voting.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/grandfatherclause.asp

How gender bias is there; grandfather, masculine compound noun, making women invisible, women are not taken as reference point, then need for
neutral

Neutral alternative: pre-existing condition

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

jack-of-all-trades

 Meaning someone who can do many different types of work, but who often is not very skilled at any of them
(Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)

Origin Usage of the phrase dates back to the 14th century and an ex ample is found in John Gower’s Middle English poem
Confessio Amantis(1390).

The term’s origin goes back to when Jack was used as a general representative of the common people.

How gender bias jack masculine noun, apparent impression that women can not be with multiple skills.

Neutral alternative: handyperson

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

John Q. Public
 Meaning people in general; the public (oxford advanced learners dictionary)

the average member of the public, or people in general

( Longman dictionary of contemporary English)

Origin An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

(https://www.dictionary.com/browse/john-q--public?s=t)

How gender bias john masculine noun, not representing females as general public of society

Neutral alternative; the public

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

johnny-come-lately

 Meaning ​a person who has only recently arrived in a place or started an activity, especially somebody who is more
confident than they should be
(Oxford English Dictionaries)
a late arrival or participant; newcomer
Origin First recorded in 1825–35; from the proper name Johnny
(https://www.dictionary.com/browse/johnny-come-lately?s=t)

How gender bias masculine noun Johnny, as newcomer reaching different spheres of social economic life,
woman invisible, their representation in different situations of life is not visible

Neutral alternative; newcomer

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

johnny-on-the-spot

 Meaning (US, slang, dated) A person who is conveniently in the right place when needed.
(https://en.wiktionary.org/)

a person who is on hand to perform a service, seize an opportunity, deal with an emergency, etc.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/johnny-on-the-spot?s=t

Origin Since the 17th century, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, this familiar diminutive of “John” has been used “humorously or
contemptuously” to mean “a fellow, chap.”
first recorded in an American novel, Artie (1896), by George Ade.
(https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2013/03/johnny-come-lately.html)

How gender bias Johnny, male name, promptness, responsiveness, with respect to these abilities women are not represented in this idiom
why attributive value of dexterity is associated with male gender only making women invisible, showing them incapble

Neutral alternative; prompt person, right-on-time

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

king's ransom

 Meaning a very large amount of money

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

A king's ransom is an unspecified but exceedingly large amount of money.

Origin From the exceptionally high ransom demanded for the return of a kidnapped or captured king
The word 'ransom', in various spellings, entered the English language in the early 14th century.
www.phrases.org.uk › meanings › a-kings-ransom.htm#

How gender bias masculine noun king, invisibility of women in power and politics, why being voluminous is associated
with person of male gender

Neutral alternative; valuable: an extremely large amount of money:

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

king-size

 Meaning ​very large; larger than normal when compared with a range of sizes
a king-size bed, a king-sized headache

Origin the king-size name comes from England’s King George VI, who apparently preferred the new cigarette’s length. This theory,
however, overlooks that king denoted “larger than normal,” hence “superior,” long before the cigarette ever stretched out.

How gender bias masculine noun king why voluminous is being associated with person of male gender

Neutral alternative; huge, very large

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

layman

 Meaning

Origin

How gender bias

Neutral alternative; layperson

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

letterman

 Meaning : an athlete who has earned a letter in a school sport (merriam-webster)

a person who has earned a letter in an interscholastic or intercollegiate activity, especially a sport.

Origin First recorded in 1715–25;

(https://www.dictionary.com/browse/letterman?s=ts)

How gender bias masculine noun man, sporty talents of women underestimated, being made invisible to be sport talents

Neutral alternative; achiever, award winning athlete

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

man among men

 Meaning (idiomatic) A man who is accepted on the same terms, and as having the same worth, as other men in
society.
en.wiktionary.org

Origin He is at least a man among men, and not a humbug among humbugs. 1894 R. KIPLING Jungle Bk.

How gender bias male noun, sexist approach, women invisibility

Neutral alternative; outstanding person

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

man of distinction

 Meaning

Origin

How gender bias

Neutral alternative; person of distinction

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

man of the year

 Meaning

Origin

How gender bias

Neutral alternative; newsmaker of the year

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

man-to-man

 Meaning

Origin

How gender bias

Neutral alternative; head-to-head, face-to-face

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

master plan

 Meaning ​a detailed plan that is designed to make a complicated project successful (OALD)
a detailed plan for controlling everything that happens in a complicated situation(LDOCE)

Origin 1914, a plan giving overall guidance (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/master%20plan)

Origin of term master: The term “master” (spelled mægster, magester, or magister in Old English) was borrowed from Latin,
where a magister was a chief, head, director, or superintendent.

https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2017/05/mister.html

How gender bias because gender of noun master is masculine, superficial impression for association with one gender.

Neutral alternative; main plan, primary plan

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

masterpiece

 Meaning a work of art such as a painting, film, book, etc. that is an excellent, or the best, example
of the artist’s work (OALD)

Origin "a work or performance of a master, a piece of work of surpassing excellence," c. 1600, from master
(n.) + piece (n.1). A loan-translation of Dutch meesterstuk "work by which a craftsman attains the rank of
master" (or its German cognate Meisterstück).

How gender bias because gender of noun master is masculine, superficial impression for association with one gender.

Neutral alternative; great work of art

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

mother country

 Meaning the country where you or your family were born and that you feel a strong emotional connection with
 ​the country that controls or used to control the government of another country

Origin Sir Edwyn Sandys in 1617:

"We are well weaned from ye delicate milke of our mother countrie, (https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/mother-country.html)

How gender bias sexist approach, feminine noun mother is used

Neutral alternative; homeland

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

number-one-man

 Meaning main controlling person

Origin

How gender bias

Neutral alternative; head, chief, leader

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

number-two-man

 Meaning being deputy of controlling person, acting on his behalf or under his headship.

Origin

How gender bias masculine noun man

Neutral alternative; second in command

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

right-hand man

 Meaning a person who helps somebody a lot and who they rely on, especially in an important job(OALD)
the person who supports and helps you the most (LDOCE)

Origin

How gender bias masculine noun man

Neutral alternative; main assistant

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

old wives' tale

 Meaning a belief based on old ideas that are now considered to be untrue (LDOCE)
 an often traditional belief that is not based on fact : SUPERSTITION (MERRIAM-WEBSTER)
False information, usually erroneous belief, traditional unscientific belief, myth

Origin The origin of this idiom dates back to around 300 B.C. This expression was first used by a famous Greek philosopher by the name of Plato.
(https://www.phrases.com/phrase/old-wives'-tale_44888)

How gender bias negative practices of society, idiosyncracies are being described through feminine plural noun.

Neutral alternative; superstition

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

organization man

 Meaning

Origin

How gender bias masculine noun man, women are being show as less/un-capble, invisibility of
talents and capabilities of women

Neutral alternative; team player, loyal company person

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

prehistoric man

 Meaning

Origin

How gender bias masculine noun man, stirs creation story, making of men and woman, birth from rib of man.
Discriminatory.

Neutral alternative; prehistoric person

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

workmen's compensation

 Meaning Insurance that pays medical costs of personal injuries sustained by working.
(https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/workman%27s_compensation#English)
a type of insurance that provides payments to employees who get injured or sick as a direct result of their job

Origin Today's workers' compensation laws owe their origin to Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck who in a political move to mitigate social
unrest, created the Employer's Liability Law of 1871.

How gender bias plural masculine noun, linguistic invisibility, also promotes such discouraging discourse for working men.

Neutral alternative; workers’ compensation

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
Topic: “Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases”

Conclusion
 The manifestations of sexism in proverbs and idioms is from the perspectives of social, status, wisdom, character.
 It reveal the phenomenon of sexism in language and find out solutions to help people reduce and eliminate discrimination
against women in society and language.
 English idioms helps us understand sexism in English-speaking communities
 It is the mirror of the culture of the western countries.
 Language should be used consciously to avoid being objectionable for any school of thought.
 Non-sexist language policy if promoted in society can harmonize the linguistic concerns of feminists school of thought.
 This sensitize us to the Linguistic discrimination of any gender, ethnic group, age group, minority group
 Using non-sexist language may be a social stabilizer.

Course: Feminist Linguistics ENG-428 - Instructor: Mubashir Husain. Lecturer. Department of English , KUST - Email: mubasherhu@gmail.com
 References
 Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 19 June 2019. v. courtesan, -zan, 1,
 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/What-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-Jack-of-all-
trades/articleshow/8820631.cms#:~:text=He%20is%20therefore%20a%20%E2%80%9CJack,poem%20Confessio%20Amantis(1390).
 Sexism in English Proverbs and Idioms (Yang Zhang) Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 424-429, March 2018
 https://www.bloomsbury-international.com/student-ezone/idiom-of-the-week/1856-jack-of-all-trades/
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/grandfatherclause.asp
 https://aslstem.cs.washington.edu/topics/view/8079
 https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2013/03/johnny-come-
lately.html#:~:text=A%3A%20The%20phrase%20%E2%80%9CJohnny%2D,the%20name%20%E2%80%9CJohnny%E2%80%9D%20here.
 https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-kings-
ransom.html#:~:text=The%20word%20'ransom'%2C%20in,or%20their%20release%20being%20involved.
 Cambridge advanced learners dictionary.

 www.Dictionary.com
 www.merriamwebster.com
 Schultz, Muriel (1975) The Neutralizing the Gendered Idioms & Phrases of women.
 Cambridge University Press, Language in societyVol. 2, No. 1 (Apr., 1973), pp. 45-80 , Article; Language and Woman's Place , Robin Lakoff