Sexist Language in Selected Print Media: A History of Degendering Language in Hawaii

Abstract

his study investigates the status of sexist language in the print media in Hawaii by performing a content analysis of two daily newspapers, two weekly publications and two monthly magazines for language content during a 14 day period from March 1 to 14, 1996. News articles were monitored for biased terms, titles, phrases and forms of speech, and examples found were categorized as one of seven possible types, according to guidelines by the Honolulu Media Task Force (1985). Results indicate that despite over two decades of guidelines and mandates, sexism in language persists in the media. Bias is observed most prominently in occupational terms, such as chairman or spokeswoman, while other forms of bias remain infrequent. The study concludes with reasoning for regression in this form of degendered language and recommendations for further study.