Psychology Commons^™

Does Sexist Language Reflect Personal Characteristics?, Mark R. Mcminn, Shannan F. Lindsay, Laurel E. Hannum, Pamela K. Troyer

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

We investigated whether or not sexist language in written form can be linked to traditional views of sex roles, assertiveness, psychological androgyny, Christian beliefs, or sexist language in oral form. In Experiment 1, undergraduates were given an essay designed to test written sexist language and several pencil-and-paper personality inventories. No relationship between sexist language and interpersonal assertiveness or psychological androgyny was found. However, those who avoided sexist language were less traditional in their sex role perceptions scored lower on a scale of Christian beliefs. In Experient 2, the method of measuring sexist language was expanded by using three essay responses …