Language and Gender: A comparative analysis of gender

discrimination in Tamil and English Language

Ifrath Nuha
University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka
[email protected]
Abstract

This research paper aims to provide a comparative analysis of how both Tamil and

English language structures reflect and perpetuate gender biases that can lead to various

forms of gender discrimination. It draws examples from our immediate living context to

discuss about how both Tamil and English languages, with its gendered pronouns, honorifics,

proverbs and idiomatic expressions reinforce traditional gender roles and patriarchal values.

Though these gender norms seem to be inherent within the language structures, recent

developments in the scholarship of Language and Gender has resulted in the evolution of

certain linguistic reformations that has resulted in the broader societal movement for gender

equality and inclusivity. While there is an ongoing effort to replace gendered terms with

gender-neutral terms in English, Tamil as the ancient language remains deeply entrenched in

the traditional linguistic culture. This paper analyses how these two languages construct and

perpetuate gender discriminations and also traces the recent developments in the linguistic

structure of the two languages that deconstruct gender stereotypes in order to promote a more

equitable and inclusive society.

Keywords: gender discrimination, Tamil, English, sociolinguistics, gender norms, language

reform, gender equality, linguistic inclusivity.

1.Introduction

The study of Language and Gender is a crucial area within the field of sociolinguistics, as it

investigates how linguistic practices shape gender ideologies. Gender is a social construct

that is largely shaped by societal norms and cultural practices. Language; a tool that reflects

these social values and cultural norms influences the way individuals understand gender and

their roles in society. The interplay between language and gender thus focuses on how

language reflects, reinforces and at times challenges gender norms. The primary objective of

this research is to analyze how gender is encoded and reflected in Tamil and English

languages. It compares the ways in which each language contributes to the construction of

these gender norms that perpetuate gender discrimination. Although attempts have been made

to reform linguistic structures in a way that promotes gender equality, both Tamil and English

language continue to reinforce societal gender norms through their everyday expressions of

language. Recent developments in sociolinguistics and feminist linguistics challenges

traditional linguistic structures that reinforce gender norms, introducing various language

reformations that create space for all gender identities to be recognized equally. This research

thus becomes important both for linguistic and social reasons. It highlights the importance of

linguistic reformation as a critical tool for social change in the larger context of ongoing

global movements towards gender equality. Moreover, this study also contributes to the

broader understanding of how language influences gender dynamics across different cultures.

2.Theoretical Framework

This research situates the discussion around Language and gender within the larger

framework of sociolinguistics to explore how language reflects and perpetuates gender

norms. It uses Critical Discourse Analysis to unpack the power structures inherent in Tamil
and English languages that discriminate/marginalize women and limit the scope of gender

identities within the male-female binary.

3. Gender Discrimination through language.

Gender discrimination refers to the unequal treatment between individuals belonging to

different gender identities. Within the male-female binary, it is often the marginalization of

women where they are subjugated, mistreated and oppressed. Men takes a superior position

in the society while women are considered as their inferiors based on societal norms, cultural

practices and stereotypes associated with gender roles. Gender discrimination in terms of

non-binary individuals refers to the unequal treatment or marginalization of people who do

not identify strictly as male or female. These non-binary individuals also face exclusion and

discrimination based on societal norms, gender binaries and rigid social structures. Many

languages, including Tamil and English, have linguistic structures that perpetuate gender

discrimination by assigning roles, qualities and status to individuals based on their gender. By

analyzing linguistic expressions such as gendered pronouns, honorifics, job titles, proverbs

and idiomatic expressions, we can better understand the role of language in shaping and

reflecting gender dynamics.

3.1. Gender Discrimination in Tamil.

Tamil is one of the oldest surviving classical languages that is rich in culture and heritage. Its

linguistic structure is largely shaped by cultural norms and social practices of Tamil people.

Patriarchal values and rigid gender norms are deeply entrenched in Tamil culture. From

Sangam literature to medieval devotional poetry, Tamil has inscribed gender roles within its

linguistic framework, clearly distinguishing between the role of man and woman through

gendered pronouns, verbs, grammar, proverbs, idioms and literatures. These linguistic

distinctions shaped by rigid societal norms placed men in positions of power and authority
while confining women to domestic and subordinate roles. Thus, Gendered language in Tamil

is not merely a grammatical feature but becomes a reflection of the deeply ingrained social-

hierarchy that places men over women. Distinctions in linguistic features that perpetuate

gender discrimination are discussed below:

3.1.1 Gendered pronouns

Tamil has gender-specific pronouns to distinguish between male and female individuals

where the term “அவன்” is used to denote men while the term “ அவள்” is used for women. Even

though “அவர்” is a gender-neutral term use to denote both men and women, it is often used to

refer to men as it was derived from the Tamil root “ அவன்”. The sentence “அவர் வந்தார்”

may automatically be decoded as informing the arrival of a man rather than a woman. This

shows the internalization of gender norms where a term like “ அவர்” which implies a sense of

respect might necessarily refer to the man. The word “ அவர்கள்” refers to a group of people

consisting of both men and women. But the use of the term “ அவர்கள்” which comes from the

root “அவன்” shows the priority given to men in such common context which highlights the

superiority of men over women. In the case of non-binary individuals (LGBTQ+), there are

no specific pronouns in Tamil to refer to these people who take different gender identities.

This shows the exclusion of these people from the larger society.

3.1.2 Honorifics

Gender-specific honorifics in Tamil such as “திரு”, “செல்வன்” for men and “திருமதி”,

“செல்வி” for woman based on their marital status, reinforces gender binary without

recognizing diverse gender identities. There is no specific honorific in Tamil that refers to

non-binary individuals. This exclusion erases the identity of non-binary individuals and

makes them invisible within the social structure that leads to institutional marginalization and

discrimination. These specific honorifics based on the marital status of individuals raises
question about the status of widowed men and women. Moreover, the use of the terms “ ஐயா”

that refers to men and “அம்மா/அம்மணி” that refers to women in formal settings shows how the

terms are closely tied to the gender role. In this context, the term “ அம்மா/அம்மணி” signifies

the nurturing and caring roles associated to femininity while terms used for men signifies

masculinity and power.

3.1.3. Verbs

Tamil language modifies verbs based on the subject’s gender that reinforces binary gender

distinction. The verb used to refer to the arrival of somebody changes its suffix according to

the subject’s gender. When the subject is a male( அவன்) the verb goes with the suffix - ஆன்

(அவன் வந்தான்). When the subject is a female ( அவள்), the verb goes with the suffix - ஆள்

(அவள் வந்தாள்). The sentence “அவர் வந்தார்” generally refers to the arrival of a man. These

binary distinctions limit the recognition of non-binary or gender-fluids identities. Lack of

non-binary pronouns and verb modification limits non-binary individuals within the binary

system, forcing them to confirm to the traditional gender norms that strips their agency and

freedom.

3.1.4 Occupational title

Occupational titles in Tamil often perpetuate gender discrimination by reinforcing gender

roles based on the societal expectations about what types of works are appropriate for men

and women. Most of the job titles in Tamil exist in both masculine and feminine forms.

Example:

ஆசிரியர்-ஆசிரியை

அரசன்-அரசி

தலைவன்-தலைவி
நடிகன்-நடிகை

வேலைக்காரன்-வேலைக்காரி

சமூக சேவகர்-சமூக சேவகி

பேராசிரியர்-பேராசிரியை

Event though, there are gender specific job titles to distinguish between male and female, we

often see the masculine title having an upper hand within society. The replacement of the

suffix “ன்” to “ர்” where words like தலைவன் and நடிகன் were replaced with தலைவர் and

நடிகர் shows how the masculine titles demands a sort of respect. But on the other hand, we

do not see any such changes in the job titles for women. They had remained the same for

ages. Masculine titles seem to have more authority and power than feminine titles within the

society.

For example: அரசன் have more power and authority than அரசி

Most of the feminine titles have been gradually diminishing from usage where the masculine

form is often used as default for general reference for both men and women which shows the

masculine bias.

For example, Terms like தலைவர், சமூக சேவகர், பேராசிரியர் are commonly used for both

men and women where the titles referring to female counterparts such as தலைவி, சமூக சேவகி,

பேராசிரியை are very rarely used.

There are other occupational titles which are gender-neutral. Most of the time these gender-

neutral titles are culturally interpreted as male centric. Professions such as வைத்தியர்,

பொறியியலாளர், நீதிபதி, சட்டத்தரணி, முகாமையாளர், காவலாளி, செயலாளர் are interpreted as

male-centric jobs which shows the deeply rooted gender norms that defines gender roles.
women are often associated with jobs related to caring, nurturing and soft-skill works such as

nursing, teaching etc while it is believed that women cannot do hard labor.

Even though certain higher positions in society are referred using gender-neutral terms such

as “ஜனாதிபதி, பிரதமர், தொழிலதிபர்”, we often see the usage of the signifier “ பெண்” being

used in front of all these titles as in “ பெண் ஜனாதிபதி”, “பெண் பிரதமர்” which reflects the

notion that women taking up such roles is something unusual. The usage of the term

“இல்லத்தரசி” that refers to women taking care of home and hearth, reinforces traditional

gender roles where women are expected to be confined within the domestic sphere, taking

care of family and household while men belong to both public and private sphere. This way,

we could see the use of occupational titles in Tamil reinforcing gender discrimination by

embedding societal expectations into language. Moreover, the professional identity of the

non-binary individuals is also questioned within the gender-based professional settings.

3.1.5. Proverbs and Idiomatic expressions

Tamil proverbs and Idiomatic expressions like other cultural expressions reflects the

traditional values and beliefs of the society. In terms of gender, many Tamil proverbs

reinforce traditional gender roles thereby perpetuating gender discrimination by objectifying

women, emphasizing patriarchal ideals and reinforcing gender stereotypes. Given below are

some of the Tamil proverbs that reinforces gender discrimination.

 பொம்பள சிரிச்சா போச்சி போயிலை விரிச்சா போச்சு.

 உண்டி சுருங்குதல் பெண்டிற்கு அழகு.

 பெண்டிற்கழகு பேசாதிருத்தல்.

 பெண்புத்தி பின்புத்தி.

 பெட்டைக்கோழி கூவினால் விடியாது.

 பேயை நம்பினாலும் பெண்ணை நம்பாதே.

 ஆண் கெட்டால் சம்பவம் பெண் கெட்டால் சரித்திரம்.

 அடுப்பூதும் பெண்களுக்கு படிப்பதெற்க்கு

We could see this proverbs and idiomatic expressions reinforcing gender stereotypes where

women are portrayed as objects of beauty, weak in nature, uneducated and reinforces gender

norms where women are expected to remain silent and passive. On the other hand, they also

reflect patriarchal values where men are considered to be superior and authoritative.

3.2. Gender Discrimination in English

Language is largely shaped by the culture in which it is spoken. English language, like many

others, has historically perpetuated gender discrimination through its linguistic features, word

choices and cultural practices. English as a global language might reflect how gender is

perceived across different cultures. Despite the multiple-strides towards gender equality,

English language continue to reflect a patriarchal bias where men take a superior position

over women and non-binary individuals. Gendered language has thus contributed to

systematic inequalities between men, women and non-binary individuals by embedding

certain cultural expectations within linguistic features such as pronouns, honorifics,

occupational titles and idiomatic expressions.

3.2.1. Gendered Pronouns

Gendered Pronouns in English such as “he” for men and “she” for women perpetuate gender

discrimination by reinforcing a binary view of gender which exclude non-binary individuals.

Historically, the male pronoun “he” has been used as the default in linguistic situations where

the gender of the person mentioned is unknown. Until recently, legal and formal texts used

“he” as the norm, even when referring to both men and women. This practice not only

normalize male authority but also marginalize women. English does not have a gender-

neutral term to refer to both men and women as in Tamil. Therefore, male denominators are

widely used to represent both men and women.

Example: A teacher might address both girls and boys within a classroom using a common

phrase like “Every student should bring his books to class”. Here, even though the term “his”

is intended to refer to all the students in the class, it privileges male identity over the girls and

non-binary students in the classroom.

3.2.2. Honorifics

Honorifics in English such as “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, “Master” and “Miss” reinforces gender roles

and limits the recognition of non-binary individuals. These honorifics are associated to the

marital status of individuals where a married woman is referred to as “Mrs.” and a married

man as “Mr” while an unmarried woman is referred as “Miss” and unmarried man as

“Master”. But in the practical sense, men are uniformly referred to as “Mr.” regardless of

their marital status. The necessity for women to use honorifics based on their marital status

show how women’s lives are depended upon their relationship to man while men do not have

any such necessities. Moreover, the practice of woman annexing their husband’s names with

their names also shows the gender norms reinforced by the institution of marriage. Moreover,

the honorifics such as “Sir”/ “Lord” that refers to men, and “Madam” / “Lady” that refer to

women also exclude non-binary individuals. The term “Lord” is associated with power,

prestige and authority, while the term “Lady” does not carry such connotations.

3.2.3. Occupational Titles

Historically, occupations were defined based on the gender norms prevalent in society. As

women were strictly confined within homes in the past, most of the occupations in the public

sphere were occupied by men. Men’s dominance in the workforce is still prevalent in the

present times even though women’s presence can largely be seen in the work force. Many

traditional job titles are gender-specific, which reinforces the stereotype that certain jobs are

inherently male or female. For instance, occupations such as, “policeman”, “fireman”,
“chairman” imply that these jobs are apt only for men, while the use of terms such as “police

woman”, “chairwoman” often appear as afterthoughts and are very rarely used. Even though

gender-neutral terms such as “police officer”, “chairperson” and “firefighters” refers to both

men and women, these terms are also culturally interpreted as something associated to men as

they require masculine qualities such as strength and intellect. Moreover, many gender-

neutral jobs such as “doctor”, “lawyer”, “leader” is also culturally interpreted as occupation

that are suitable for men. Most of the textbooks also perpetuate these gender norms where

they portray the picture of a woman to denote professions such as “nurse”, “teacher” and

picture of men to denote profession such as “doctor”, “farmer” etc. Certain professions such

as Boss, CEO, Manager are roles that are traditionally associated to men. The reliance on the

masculine form to speak for all genders can also be found in the expressions like “man-kind”,

“man-made” which reinforce the superiority of men.

3.2.4. Proverbs and Idiomatic expressions

Many proverbs and idiomatic expressions uphold traditional gender roles, portraying men as

dominant, rational and powerful while women are often depicted as passive, weak, emotional,

manipulative and shrewd. These old sayings and expressions still continue to reinforce

gender discrimination by various means. The old sayings such as “When an ass climbs a

ladder, we may find wisdom in women”, “A women’s advice is never to seek”, “Women’s

counsel is cold” project women as irrational and unintelligent and their wisdom is often

neglected in patriarchal societies. The old proverbs such as “Women are the devil’s net”, “A

worse women is worse than a bad man”, “There was never a conflict without a woman”

present women as evil and negative characters who often create chaos.

Idiomatic expressions also reinforce gender stereotypes where certain idioms such as “Man

up”, “Be a man”, “Wear the pants” which have masculine connotations, are used to show
strength, courage and emotional intelligence while idioms such as “Throw like a girl” , “Old

wives’ tale” which have female connotations are used to criticize someone’s physical ability

or knowledge as weak and unreliable. Women are also associated with sin and evil due to the

biblical reference to Eve’s sin that led to the fall of humankind.

3.2. 5. Derogatory and vulgar terms.

English language contains derogatory terms that are often focused on women’s sexuality that

perpetuate gender discrimination. Terms like “bitch”, “nag”, “slut”, and “whore” are often

female-centric and are used to objectify women, devalue people and reduce women to sexual

objects. Women’s sexual agency is often controlled and are harshly judged by the society

which shows the double-standards of patriarchal society. Men who engage with multiple

partners are labeled using positive connotations such as “player” or “stud” while women

engaging in similar behavior are labeled as “slut”, “whore” that produce negative

connotations.

3.3 Comparative analysis of gender discrimination in Tamil and English

Based on the above discussion, we could see how both Tamil and English as languages that

evolved within patriarchal societies, construct gender ideologies that perpetuate gender

discrimination. A comparative analysis of how gender discrimination is perpetuated through

Tamil and English languages require a critical study of the linguistic features of both the

languages using critical discourse analysis that unpacks the power structures inherent within

the language structures. Unlike in Tamil, English has introduced gender-neutral pronoun

“they/them” to refer to non-binary individual. These pronouns are now widely used to

recognize queer, and gender-fluid individuals in many of the platforms such s media, books,

etc. Moreover, English language has also introduced an honorific “Mx” to refer to these non-

binary individuals. There are also attempts in English to create a dictionary that defines the
experiences of the LGBTQ+ society that challenges traditional gender stereotypes and work

towards an inclusive society. Unlike Tamil, English does not define verbs based on the

subject’s gender which pronounce a sense of respect for all the genders. For instance, the

arrival of any individual whether man, woman or non-binary individual would sound as “he

came”, “she came”, “They came” where as in Tamil the verb would distinguish people based

on their gender identity. In English, attempts have been made to develop new terms and

frameworks that better reflect gender diversity and promote gender equality. Thus, we could

see English language having a rapid movement towards the adoption of gender-neutral and

inclusive terms in order to reduce gender-discrimination.

While on the other hand, the progress towards gender equality and inclusivity in Tamil has

been slower. Tamil as a traditional classical language is reluctant to changes. The deeply

ingrained grammatical gender distinctions and cultural attitudes in Tamil makes it

challenging to bring upon such changes within the language structure. The lack of gender-

neutral pronouns or verb forms in Tamil poses a significant obstacle in creating a more

inclusive society. Moreover, there are not much scholarship around feminist discourses or

gender diversity in Tamil compared to English. Tamil culture strictly follows rigid gender

hierarchy even today while these rigid structures are destabilized in English culture. This

reluctant nature of Tamil language continues to perpetuate gender discrimination without

providing a space for gender equality and inclusivity.

4. Linguistic Reformation and Gender inclusivity

Linguistic reformation in terms of gender refers to the efforts made to modify language in

way that reflects a more equitable and inclusive society. language is a primary tool that

shapes the way we perceive and understand the world around us. Traditionally, many

languages have perpetuated gender discrimination by reinforcing binary distinctions, favoring

one gender over the other, and excluding non-binary individuals. In response to this,

sociolinguistics, activist and communities have called for changes in language structure to

promote gender equality. The deconstruction of traditional linguistic practices in both

languages thus become crucial for promoting gender inclusivity. In English, further adoption

of gender-neutral terms and inclusive speech practices will help challenge the status quo. In

Tamil, more discourse around gender inclusivity is necessary to shift both language nad

cultural perception.

5. Conclusion

The comparative analysis of gender discrimination in Tamil and English reveals that both

languages inherently reflect and perpetuate traditional gender norms, but their trajectories

towards gender inclusivity differ significantly. English, due to the socio-cultural shifts of the

last few decades, has seen substantial efforts to reform language structures by introducing

gender-neutral pronouns and terminologies and by working on different scholarships

surrounding feminist and queer discourses. In contrast, Tamil’s rigid grammatical structure

and cultural attitudes makes the push for gender inclusivity more complex. Despite these

challenges, Tamil is not entirely resistant to change. There is a growing awareness of the

limitation posed by gendered language and the need for more inclusive linguistic practices.

However, with growing awareness and advocacy, both languages are evolving, reflecting

broader societal shifts towards gender equality.

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