Gender Stereotypes in Dictionaries: The Challenge of Reconciling Usage-based Lexicography with the Role of Dictionaries as Social Agents

Abstract

In many countries of the world, perspectives on gender equality and racism have changed in recent decades.1 One result has been more attention being devoted to traces of andro­centric and racist language in society. This also affects dictionaries. In lexicography there are dis­cussions about whether or to what extent social asymmetries are inscribed in dictionaries and if this is still acceptable. The issue of the nature of description plays an important role in this discus­sion. If sexist usages are often found in language use, i.e. in the corpus data on which the dictionary is based, does the dictionary also have to show them? How is this, in turn, compatible with the normative power of dictionaries? Do dictionaries contribute to the perpetuation of gender stereo­types by showcasing them under the banner of descriptive principles? And what roles do lexicog­raphers play in this process? The article deals with these questions on the basis of individual lexi­cographical examples and current discussions in the lexicographic and public community. Keywords: gender and language, gender stereotypes, collocations, cor­pus-based lexicography, dictionaries as social agents