1.“Policeman” and “fireman” are words that demonstrate
a. allness.
b. ethnocentrism.
c. polarization.
d. sexist language.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is:
d. sexist language.
Explanation:
The words “policeman” and “fireman” are examples of sexist language because they inherently imply that only men occupy these roles. The suffix “-man” suggests a male gender, which excludes or marginalizes women who work or could work in these professions. This kind of language assumes a gender binary where certain jobs are linked only to men, reinforcing gender stereotypes.
Sexist language is a form of biased language that reflects or perpetuates gender inequality by using words that favor one gender—usually males—over others. Historically, many English words for occupations have been gender-specific, reflecting traditional roles in society where certain jobs were almost exclusively done by men. For example, “fireman” implies the job is for men, even though women can and do work as firefighters. The use of these terms can discourage women from entering these fields and reinforce societal stereotypes about gender roles.
Modern efforts in language aim to use gender-neutral alternatives to avoid sexist implications. Instead of “policeman,” terms like “police officer” or “firefighter” are preferred. These alternatives remove gender bias and recognize that these roles can be performed by any gender.
This contrasts with other options:
- a. Allness refers to language that implies something is universally true without exception, which is not related here.
- b. Ethnocentrism involves judging other cultures based on one’s own cultural standards, unrelated to gendered occupational terms.
- c. Polarization refers to dividing language or thought into strict opposites or extremes, not specifically about gendered job titles.
In summary, “policeman” and “fireman” illustrate sexist language because they unnecessarily assign gender to roles that should be inclusive, thereby perpetuating gender bias in communication.
