A Feminist Stylistic Reading of Sexist Terms As Gendered Language in Adelakun’s Under The Brown Rusted Roofs

Abstract

This study investigates gendered language at the lexical level of language of Abimbola Adelakun’s Under the Brown Rusted Roofs using the tenets of feminist stylistics. The study aims to identify lexical items that overtly and covertly uphold and sponsor discriminatory ideology that demean and undermine women in the socio-cultural context of the text while males enjoy a ‘patriarchal dividend’ that gives them access to capital and make them desirable. The analysis reveals three categories of lexical items that are sexist and detrimental to female subjects in the text: inherently derogatory words; lower feminine status terms; and female subject objectifying words. Individually and corporately, the three categories of sexist lexical items in the text demean the female subject and facilitate discrimination against them. This study thus contributes to the knowledge of how language use can initiate and reflect the gender ideology working within a specific community.