the silence of women

However, this silence that categorizes women in discourse is not the actual absence of language.  Instead, it is the historical relegation of typically female linguistic activities to things such as gossiping, keeping diaries, and informal correspondence. Because these activities are within the private realm and generally amongst women, the discourse of women is not often seen or discussed.  These are not activities that garner much prestige and are often referred to disparagingly.  In addition to the relegation of typical women’s language to these lower forms of discourse, the absence of women in high culture topics such as “politics, poetry, science, and legal discourse” perpetuates the notion of women being unable to grasp and take control of language and express themselves freely.

 

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Cameron, 4