Language and Gender A Level Unit

A 10 lesson unit comprising a 66 slide PowerPoint, 9 different worksheets (including transcripts) exploring the topic of Language and Gender and a summary terminology and theory sheet.

Each lesson includes a starting discussion prompt which acts as a learning objective, detailed notes on the theories and concepts listed below, a worksheet (with the exception of lesson nine) and activities, and a homework task. The following theories and concepts are covered:

• The Deficit Approach – Robin Lakoff (1973 & 1975)
• The Dominance Approach - Don Zimmerman & Candace West (1975), Dale Spender (1980) and Pamela Fishman (1978)
• The Deficit Approach – Otto Jesperson (1922)
• Folklinguistics
• Criticism of Zimmerman and West - Geoff Beattie (1981)
• Gossip – Jane Pilkington (1992 and 1998)
• The Difference Approach – Deborah Tannen (1990) and Janet Holmes (1995)
• Criticism of Holmes and politeness – Sara Mills (2003)
• Women, Men and Language – Jennifer Coates (1993)
• Norwich Study – Peter Trudgill (1974)
• Gender Trouble – Judith Butler (1990)
• The Myth of Mars and Venus – Deborah Cameron (2008)
• The Gender Similarities Hypothesis – Janet Hyde (2005)
• Verbal Hygiene – Deborah Cameron (1995)
• The Whole Woman – Penelope Eckert (1990)
• Relational Aggression – Rosalind Wiseman (2002)
• Gossip - Deborah Jones (1980)
• Gossip – Holly Hom (2004)
• Gossip – Nigel Nicholson (2001)
• Powerless Language – William O’Barr and Bowman Atkins (1980)
• Gendered workplace language – Barbara Eakins and R. Gene Eakins (1976)
• Gendered workplace language – Carole Edelsky (1981)

There are some references to AQA-style A Level specification questions, but you can adapt these if needs be. These can be found on slides 56-63. Lesson 9 is based on an AQA A Level question.

The final lesson is a consolidation activity complete with guided revision cards. Alternatively, you could use an app such as Quizlet so that the students could produce digital revision resources.

Check out my other English Language A Level resources!

Language and Region
Language and Power and Occupation
Language and Global/World Englishes
Language Change
Language and Technology
Language and Ethnicity
Language and Social Groups
Language Discourses
Language Discourses Opinion Writing